Vesak Festival is celebrated with great fervor and reverence by the Buddhists throughout the world. It is celebrated on a full moon day and this day has great significance to the practicing Buddhists wherever they are in the world. Vesak Festival marks the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of Lord Buddha. In Sri Lanka, all the Buddhist houses are illuminated and decorated with Vesak lanterns and electric lamps. To commemorate the event, colorful pandals with thousands of electric jets throwing dazzling color designs are found.

Vesak Festival has pious Buddhists and followers of Buddhism taking part in their various temples before dawn for the traditional hoisting of Buddhist flag and singing of hymns in praise of The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha. Devotees bring offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of their revered teacher who has many centuries ago shown the world how to manage pain and suffering, which are inevitable in human life. These are mainly symbolic offerings. And the symbolism is so sublime, it reminds the followers that just as the homage flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, life is also subject to decay and destruction. It is to be remembered that killing of any sort should be refrained from. On Vesak Day vegetarian food is taken.

Sri Lanka celebrated Vesak Festival for two days. All liquor shops and slaughter houses are closed by government decree for these two days. As a symbolic act of liberation birds, insects and animals are released in huge numbers. Many devout Buddhists wear simple white dresses on Vesak Day and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the observance of the Eight Precepts of Buddhism. Vesak celebration also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the people in more straightened circumstances

Sri Lanka celebrates Vesak - a thrice-blessed day for Buddhists as it commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining Enlightenment and his passing away into Nirvana.

 This is a day spent in reflective prayer while lanterns made from bamboo frames and covered in coloured paper are hung inside every home and incredible illuminated displays decorate the streets. Devoted Buddhists pray in temples from dawn until dusk, then take part in processions as the sun sets, visiting the temples again in the evening to hear monks read stories from the Buddhist texts. 

 Stalls on the roadside distribute free refreshments to passers-by and there are some fantastic mime and street theatre performances, staged on tall platforms throughout the cities and towns near the temples.

 Vesak is celebrated on the day of the full moon in May. It is the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals, almost a Christmas, Easier and Whitsun rolled into one as it commemorates the birth of the Buddha, his enlightenment and his death.

 Vesak devotional songs (Bakthi Gee), sil campaigns, Bodhi Poojas, Dansalas, Pandals, lanterns, greeting cards and stamps are some of the things that we see every year at the time of this Buddhist festival. 

Buddhists commemorate the important events that took place in the life of Lord Buddha on this Vesak Full Moon Poya Day. First comes the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini in Nepal which took place under the arbor of Sat trees where queen Mahamaya gave birth to him.

The second event was Siddharta Gautam's supreme attainment as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. The third event was Lord Buddha's Parinibbana over 2500 years ago at Kusinagar.

In the Vesak week we find many activities conducted by the Buddhists devotees such as devotional song campaigns, almsgiving, lighting of Vesak lanterns ..etc. Many Viharas are filled with Atasil devotees and pilgrims all over Sri Lanka to mark this great event.

In temples Buddhists worship, offer flowers, light lamps and burn incense. These traditional observances, in essence, have their value in satisfying the religious and emotional needs of the people. On this holy day the Dana plays an important role. Every devotee gives alms. This is a sign of sharing with joy and peace with people. The Vesak Pandal depicting various Jathaka stories with paintings are erected all over Sri Lanka. They are illuminated and presented beautifully.

Many Vest lanterns are displayed at houses, which are very attractive and beautify the nights.

There is a long-standing tradition in Sri Lanka of sending greeting cards on this joyous occasion. People share their happiness among relatives and friends by exchanging Vest cards. Many associations arrange to hold an exhibition of paintings or competition on Vest lanterns. The winners are awarded valuable prizes.