Manchester Buddhist Centre

Celebrating together

Buddhist Festivals

We cel­eb­rate four prin­cipal Buddhist fest­ivals through the year, ded­ic­ated to:

• The Buddha
• The Dharma — the Buddha’s teaching
• The Sangha — the spir­itual community
• Parinirvana — the Buddha’s death

Traditionally Buddhists would gather together for teach­ings, to med­it­ate and to chant on full moon days. We still do this today, cre­at­ing a strong sense of col­lect­ive practice.

Puja, or ritual, is usu­ally led at the Centre in call and response, and is prac­tised to develop our spir­itual emo­tions along­side our medi­ation and eth­ical practice.

For most of us the cent­ral prob­lem of the spir­itual life is to find emo­tional equi­val­ents for our intel­lec­tual under­stand­ing
Sangharakshita

Parinirvana Day

In February, com­mem­or­at­ing the Buddha’s final passing away, this offers an oppor­tun­ity for us to con­sider death and imper­man­ence in our own lives

Buddha Day

In May, some­times known as Wesak. Our most import­ant fest­ival, when we cel­eb­rate the Buddha gain­ing Enlightenment

Dharma Day

In July. It’s one thing to become awakened one­self, but quite another to com­mu­nic­ate to oth­ers how to achieve this. The Buddha did it!

Sangha Day

In November, cel­eb­rat­ing the spir­itual com­munity, all those who prac­tise the Dharma

Next — Festival: Parinirvana day

• On Saturday 18th February 10.00–9.30pm
• More info
• Just turn up — no book­ing required
• Future fest­ival dates