Wesak Day

Wesak is celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha - all three events having taken place on the same lunar date according to Buddhist reckoning. Buddhists observe a vegetarian diet to 'cleanse' themselves prior to the occasion. Thousands of devotees gather before dawn at temples for prayers, offerings, meditation, chanting and alms giving. Doves and tortoises are also released in a symbolic gesture of liberating the soul and forsaking past sins.