What is Vesak Day?
Vesak Day is a festival that commemorates the birth, Enlightenment, and death of Siddhārtha Gautama, otherwise known as Buddha, the spiritual teacher on whose teachings the religion of Buddhism was founded 2,500 years ago.
In Singapore, Vesak Day is a public holiday. It falls on the first full moon (15th day) of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, which is usually May in the Gregorian calendar.
On this day, Buddhists celebrate Buddha’s life, and reflect on his teachings as a guiding light in their lives. They may head to temples to make offerings, and engage in acts of kindness and generosity such as blood donations, or bequeathing gifts to the poor and needy.
On this day, Buddhists celebrate Buddha’s life, and reflect on his teachings as a guiding light in their lives. They may head to temples to make offerings, and engage in acts of kindness and generosity such as blood donations, or bequeathing gifts to the poor and needy.
Where does the word "Vesak" come from?
The word “Vesak” comes from the Sanskrit term Vaiśākha, the name of the lunar month used in ancient India, which falls on the second half of April and the first half of May in the Gregorian calendar.
How did Vesak Day Holiday in Singapore come about?
As modern Singapore was a British colony, Vesak Day wasn’t always a public holiday.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Buddhists in Singapore submitted multiple petitions to the Governor of Singapore and the colonial government to make Vesak Day a public holiday.
However, it was only in June 1955, under the Labour Front government led by David Marshall, Singapore’s first Chief Minister, that Vesak Day was declared a public holiday. The first Vesak Day holiday in Singapore was celebrated the following year, on 24 May 1956 - a Thursday.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Buddhists in Singapore submitted multiple petitions to the Governor of Singapore and the colonial government to make Vesak Day a public holiday.
However, it was only in June 1955, under the Labour Front government led by David Marshall, Singapore’s first Chief Minister, that Vesak Day was declared a public holiday. The first Vesak Day holiday in Singapore was celebrated the following year, on 24 May 1956 - a Thursday.
David Marshall (1908-1995), Singapore’s first Chief Minister from 1955 to 1956.