Lumbini

Festivals

The fairs and festivals are an integral part of the Buddhist as well as Hindu civilization. These are the main attraction of the life style of the people and preserve the social customs, the religious, beliefs, art-tradition and economic condition of the contemporary society. Since ancient time, festivals have been celebrated not only for socio-economic and religious concept, but also as a source of entertainment. So ever in religious work people feel the entertainment by praying, singing, dancing and meeting with the people and feasting was the sources of religious activities. Due to the mixed settlement of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim people in the periphery of Lumbini, they celebrate Buddha Jayanti, Varsavass, Dashain, Deepawali, Chhaţa, Maghi, Sivaratri, Basanta Panchami, Holi purnima, Ramanavami, Parikarama, Chaitra sukla purnima etc. fair and festivals on proper occasions. They are of national, regional and local significance. Vihar, Stūpa, monasteries and temples of have been associated with the Hinayān, Mahāyan and Vajrayān sects in Lumbini Master Plan Area. Thus, a systematic table of the festivals of proper sects is given below to understand their significance.

ANNUAL FAIR AND FESTIVALS

These festivals have great religious significance, but it is not possible to trace their origin and whole traditions to observe. However, they may be briefly described here in order to get a clear idea of their sacred complexities.

Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on Baisakh Sukla Purnima or full-moon April- May associated the four major events in Buddha's life, viz. his birth Mahaviniskramana, his enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana. When Mayadevi queen of Suddhodhan of Kapilvastu, was going her maternal house at Devadaha, Siddhartha Buddha was born in Lumbini garden in 563 B.C. According to Buddhist literature he immediately took seven steps and each steps left a lotus flower where his foot touched the ground. After the forecast of the sage Asita and Kaudinya, king isolated Siddhartha in the royal palace, providing him all the pleasures and facilities for his entertainment things. One day he went outside the castle walks and saw a sick man, old man and third a dead body. At last he met to a saint, a holy man and he felt that it was the source of free form preceding three pains of the world.

At the age of 29 he left palace, wife Yasodhar and son Rahula. It was the day of Baisakh sukla purnima in course of his Mahaviniskramana. His enlightenment was also held on the day of Vaiśākha sukla purnima in Bodhagaya. Then, he becomes the Lord Buddha. At the age of 8o he left his body at Kusinagar. This is known "Mahaparinirvana " in Buddhist society. Buddha passed his life sharing his teaching to human being, which is known Buddhism. Under the auspicious of the monasteries and LDT, Buddha Jayanti festival is celebrated with various activities in Buddhist countries. Lumbini, being the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha, is the main sacred complex to the Buddhist. On the occasion of Vaiśākha sukla purnima LDT and Institutions of Lumbini have been celebrating Buddha Jayanti. LDT, the authority, organize a three-day program on the occasion of the Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day. The main Organizing Committee is constituted, especial under the chairmanship of Honorable Minister for physical planning and construction. The preparatory organizing committee is formed under the chairmanship of vice chairman of Lumbini Development Trust. Other sub-committees are also formed for proper works. In 2004 May, 7 sub- committees were formed to celebrate 2548th Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day 2061 at the holy birth place of Lord Buddha. On 23 May 2005, 2549th Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day was celebrated under the leadership of LDT.

On the occasion the main functions are cleaning of sacred site and a large number of monk, nun and devotees come to the sacred complex along with flower, water, dipa, prasada etc. to worship the idol of Buddha at Mayadevi temple. Organizing Committee has managed discourse on Nepal Television and Radio stations under the topic "Role of Lumbini in peace and Development ". In 2005 the topic was " Lumbini: Glory of Nepal" for essay competition, speech on Radio stations and oratory competition among inter college and inter schools. Inter-school oratory competition and inter campus essay writing competition under the topic "Role of Lumbini in peace and Development" is also organized on this occasion. Panditarama and Goyanka Meditation centres were also camped in the evening.

The second day or the main celebration day is also performed several functions. The statue of the Buddha is kept in a chariot (khata) and taken in a procession in Lumbini area amidst music of the musician, songs of the women, prayers of the males and sacred slogans of Buddhism, such as Om Nano Shanta Rupāya, Om Namo Buddhaya and Om mani padame hu. Finally, after reaching the proposed site some monk, nun and Buddhist scholars deliver speech highlighting the deeper significance of the Buddha's serman and Buddhism to the mass who gather there. On this procession, Honorable Ministers, Monks Nuns, His Excellency Ambassadors, associated with Buddhism, Buddhist scholars, Members of LDT etc. also take part in the programme. The third day, last day of the celebration the chief guests also give away prizes and certificates to the winners in essay writing and oratory competitions and distributed scholarship to the under privileged students of the local society. Lumbini International Buddhist Society, Monasteries of Lumbini and other non-governmental organizations have also organized free medical camps in Lumbini Area.

Peace March
Fuji Guruji's began construction peace pagodas in Nepal and later World wise. He also organized peace Marches to pray for World peace and to awaken consciousness among men. Guruji was presented with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International understanding by the present of India in 1978. The citation mentioned, "as pacifist and an advocate of universal and complete disarmament the relevance of his life and his message can not be over emphasized". 74 peace pagodas have been completed in Japan, India, Śri Laήkā, England, USA, Austria and Nepal. After the death of Guruji his disciples and devotees have been succeeding to build peace pagodas and walking peace marches in the different part of the World. The first peace March in Nepal was organized by Nepalese Buddhists and Nipponzan Myohoji from Kathmandu to Lumbini covering 440km. on October 2001. This Peace March has been organizing by the peace loving people of the World. From 2002 to 2005, many monks, young generation have been involving in Peace March. In the occasion of 2549 Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini (2062 Jestha 9) a motorcycle team was involve in Peace March from Kathmandu to Lumbini. It is the sounding process for peace all over the World.

Barsavassa
In ancient period Buddha advised to his disciples to take shelter during the rainy season from Asara Sukla purnima to Aswin Sukla purnima (June to September) due to heavy rain. In order to safe their life they stay at any place about three months without passing night-rest at other site. They follow up, the rules and regulations on the basis of Vinaya pitaka. The perform one month religious activities is known "Kathinadana". Other devotees of Buddhism provide food drinks, medicine and dresses to them during this period. Dress donation process is known as "Kathina chivar". Devotees offer basis requirement of the Bhikshus, who live in Barsavassa.

A Bhikshus can not leave his shelter without permission of head monk for some times. If he needs to go out side for some time he must return at night. They can go outside in the permission of his head in case of illness or urgent work. In some time, if the rainy reason is longer than three months they should stay in Barsavassa. It is their regular duty.

Durga Puja
The festival of Durga puja is celebrated by the people of Lumbini for fifteen days. It is known as Dashain, Tika or Dasahara. It is associated with the worship of the Sakti cult in which she is worshipped in her different manifestations. On the first day of Ghatasthapana the local people of Lumbini install ceremonially the ghata to be worshipped till the day of Vijaya Dashmi. The head-male member of the family offers flowers, sweets, fruits and clarified butter and distrubute prasada each day. From the installment of ghata to the sixth day of Durga Puja only simple worship is conducted at pujakotha of the households. The seventh day, on phulapati special worship is offered to the deities. Flowers, pati, unbroken-rice and other puja articlesare also kept in the puja kotha. The eighth day is known as Kalaratri. On that day, goat, buffalo, cock, duck and pigeon are also sacrificed to the goddess. Activities of Mahastami and Mahanavami are similar.

On this occasion the devotees undertake a parikrama (circumambulation) of the goddess shrines, which is known Nava Durga Parikrama. Many secular activities are performed in order to achieve porposed goals, vrata, upavasa and puja are main activities during this period. On the tenth day of Vijayadasami Navadurga bhawani are worshipped by the members of the family early in the morning. At the proper time of Tika the cermony of Tika starts.The younger people of the families go the receive Tika and jamara from their elders. The young people go to respect the elders at the village.They finish the puja and other activities of Navadurga bhawani from this day.

Basanta Panchami
The festival of Basanta Panchami falls on the fifth day of the light fortnight in the month of Magha (January-Febreary). This festival is associated with the worship of nature on the setting of Basanta Ritu which is known the king of season (ritu raj).It is also considered the occasion of worshipping of Kamadev. The most popular function on the day is the worship of Saraswoti, the goddess of learning. The goddess of Mansushree, the Buddhist deity, is also worshipped on this occasion. In Buddhist religion, Manjushree is considered as the goddess of education, arts and crafts.

Lumbini has been the important prominent site of Buddhist learning. The Saraswati Puja is performed here with great devotion. On the occasion, in all the educational centres, viz. primary, lower secondary and secondary schools, institutions etc, the images of goddess Saraswati are installed and worshipped by students and teachers. Various cultural programmes are also conducted, especially bhajan, kirtan, drama and dancing. Artist, musician, students and teachers offer flowers, unbroken rice, sweet, banana and other puja articles to pleasure her. Due to the absence of permanent temples of Saraswoti in Lumbini and its outskirts, the devotees make the icon of Saraswati and worship her. Goddess Sarswati is worshipped in most of the families. This is also on occasion to initiate a young child to learning or it is known as vidhyarambha or aksharamabha. Most of these sacred centres are visited by people for having darshan of the deities on this auspicious day. The priests perform shodashopchar puja and offer the duties mango-flowers (amra manjen) and mustary flowers. They address her with other names as Sarada, Jagatamata or Jagatajanani.

Shivaratri
The Shivaratri festival takes place on the day of Falgun Krishna trayadasi and on this day there is a big gathering of the people at Sivalayas of Lumbini area. According to Hindu tradition, Siva was originated at that night. As the tradition has it, Siva was married on this auspicious day. His first marriage with Sati, the daughter of Raja Daksha, is not celebrated by the devotees. His second marriage with Parvati, the daughter of king Hemant of the Himalayas is celebrated as Sivaratri by the devotees all over India (Vidyarthi, 1979:65). The festival of Mahasivaratri is celebrated as the birthday of Siva. Devotees spend this day and night by singing the Bhajans, the song of Siva and reciting Siva Purana. Bhajan, Kirtan and proper stories of Siva are told by the sage and mendicants.

Parikrams
The tradition of parikrama (circumambulation) in Hindu and Buddhist scriptures has been considered as the best method of replacing out all sins and unlawful activities during one's life period. There are a number of sacred centres like Bodhagaya, Kushinagar, Saranatha, Kapilvastu and Lumbini, where the devotees go for parikrama and attach great religious significance to these sacred centres. At the last stage of his life, Gautam Buddha had advised to his disciplines that they should visit at these sites, associated with him. Master plan is also based on Buddhist philosophy. Plan is divided into three parts on the basis of worldly- life (grihastha), cultural complex, study area, religious sector and ruins of human civilization from north to south respectively.

Three segments of Lumbini represent the life-circle of human beings on the basis of Buddha's life and style. Monk and Nuns circumambulate Hinayāni and Mahāyani monasteries according to their belief and customs. Apart from their sect, they usually do parikrama from north to south. Annual peace parikrama of peace Stūpa (Nipponzan Myohoji ) is also performing from northern to southern sector of Lumbini.