Question

Which of the following festivals marks the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who founded a religion?

• A. Buddha Purnima
• B. Kartik Purnima
• C. Guru Purnima
• D. Shakambari Purnima

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Buddha Purnima

The festival that marks the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha and founded Buddhism, is called Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti. Buddha Purnima is a significant festival in the Buddhist tradition, observed across South, Southeast, and East Asia. It commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition and archaeological findings, Gautama Buddha was born around 563-483 BCE in Lumbini, Nepal. His mother, Queen Maya Devi, gave birth to him during a journey to her ancestral home, while his father was King Śuddhodana. The Mayadevi Temple, along with its surrounding gardens and an Ashoka Pillar dating back to 249 BCE, marks the site of Buddha's birth in Lumbini. The exact date of Buddha's birthday varies depending on different lunar calendars observed in various Asian regions. While the Sri Lankan convention determines the specific year, other lunisolar calendars may assign different lunar days. Consequently, the celebration of Buddha's birthday typically falls in April or May on the Western Gregorian calendar, with variations occurring in leap years, sometimes extending into June.