Pan-India • International · Vaisakha Purnima
Buddha Purnima
Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and the Path of the Buddha
Tags: Buddha Purnima · Vesak · Buddhism India · Bodh Gaya · Sarnath · Buddha · Indian Festivals
**Buddha Purnima** commemorates the Buddha and events associated with his life — birth, enlightenment and passing.
For travelers interested in Buddhist India, two locations have exceptional importance.
Bodh Gaya and Sarnath
**Bodh Gaya** (Bihar) is associated with the Buddha's **enlightenment** under the Bodhi Tree. The Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
**Sarnath** (near Varanasi) is associated with the Buddha's **first sermon** — the setting in motion of the Dharma Wheel.
India's Buddhist festivals connect the country to a religious tradition that began on the subcontinent and eventually influenced civilizations across Asia — Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, China, Japan, Korea and beyond.
Modern Indian Buddhism
Ambedkarite Buddhism — initiated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1956 — remains an important modern Indian Buddhist movement, particularly in Maharashtra and parts of central India.
**Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh** and parts of Himachal Pradesh have deep Tibetan Buddhist traditions with monasteries and Buddha Purnima celebrations.