What is Buddhist Calendar?
The Buddhist calendar is the lunisolar calendar system that is used by the Buddhist community and religion. This calendar keeps the record of the moon and the sun’s movements. It is also important to know that this calendar is driven from the Hindu calendar.
This is not an official calendar of any country e but somewhere in Southeast Asia people are using it to keep a record of their holiday and spiritual events. This calendar was developed in Burma, currently present in Myanmar. Megha Puja and Asalha Puja are the two most popular Buddhist festivals and these festival dates are calculated using the Buddhist calendar.
History Of Buddhist Calendar?
The Buddhist calendar came into existence in late 544 BC on the day of the death and Nirvana of Buddha. Sometimes people consider it as a Chinese calendar but it is not a thermometer Buddhist calendar is based on the lunisolar calendar which is somewhere similar to the traditional Chinese calendar. Just like the Hindu calendar & Islamic Calendar calendars, it has their own month name, holidays and even the cycle of years. Just like the Gregorian calendar and Julian calendar it has 12 months with 29 and 30 days each.
You would be surprised to know that the Buddhist calendar is divided into two-week periods. The first phase of the period starts with the light and starts the day after the New Moon of the previous month and with the full moon. The second period is known as the dark period which begins that day after the full moon and ends with the new moon day.
Months Name in the Buddhist Calendar
- (Sanskrit / Burmese)
- Chaitra / Tagu
- Vaisākha / Kason
- Jyaiṣṭha / Nayon
- Āṣāḍha / Waso (Repeated in every 3 years known as Lea year)
- Śrāvaṇa / Wagaung
- Bhādrapada / Tawthalin
- Āśvina / Thadingyut
- Kārttika / Tazaungmon
- Mārgaśirṣa / Nadaw
- Pauṣa / Pyatho
- Māgha / Tabodwe
- Phālguna / Tabaung
List of Buddhist Holidays in 2021
Below are the listed holidays that will be in the year of 2021 as per the Buddhist calendar.
Date | Day | Festival |
Jan 28, 2021 | Thursday | Mahayana New Year |
Feb 11 or 12, 2021 | Thursday or Friday | Losar |
Feb 15, 2021 | Monday | Parinirvana Day |
Feb 27, 2021 | Saturday | Magha Puja Day, Sangha Day |
Mar 28, 2021 | Sunday | Avalokitesvara’s Birthday |
Apr 27, 2021 | Tuesday | Theravada New Year |
May 26, 2021 | Wednesday | Vesak, Buddha Purnima |
Jul 06, 2021 | Tuesday | Dalai Lama’s Birthday |
Jul 24, 2021 | Saturday | Asalha Puja |
Jul 24, 2021 | Saturday | Guru Purnima |
Aug 13, 2021 | Friday | Bon Festival |
Oct 14, 2021 | Thursday | Dhammachakra Pravartan Day |
Oct 20, 2021 | Wednesday | Pavarana Day |
Oct 27, 2021 | Wednesday | Lhabab Duchen |
Nov 20, 2021 | Saturday | Loi Krathong |
Dec 8, 2021 | Wednesday | Bodhi Day |