22 May 2010, 13:00
Kalmykia proclaims Buddha's Birthday to be a national holiday
President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has signed a decree announcing May 27 to be the national holiday "Birthday of Buddha Sakya-Muni".
The press service of one of Buddhist temples of the city of Elista has reported that traditionally the Birthday of Buddha Sakya-Muni is marked on the 15th Lunar Day of the Month Ur Sar. This year this day of the lunar calendar falls on May 27, the "Еlista.org" reports.
According to the Buddhist tradition, the 15th day of the 4th lunar month is the anniversary of not one but three events: the Buddha's Birthday, Achievement of Enlightenment and Buddha final departure, or Parinibbana. It is considered that all these events took place in different years, but, by a surprising concurrence, on the same day of the full moon, reports the "Interfax".
