Nirvana Day
Deborah Swallow | February 8th, 2010 in : days of significance, General, social practices, South Asia
This is a Mahayana Buddhist festival which in India is known as 
Parinirvana. (Celebrated by some Buddhists on 15th Febraury). This festival marks the death of Buddha and celebrates when, at the age of 80, he finally attained nirvana (enlightenment) and was released from the cycle of death and rebirth: freedom from physical existence and its sufferings. Mahayana or Theravada Buddhists meditate or visit temples or monasteries, and the day is treated as a social occasion. Nirvana Day celebrations vary throughout the world but usually include food preparation and the exchange of gifts such as money, household goods, or clothing.
The day is used as an opportunity to reflect on one’s own future death. Meditations are carried out for newly deceased friends and relatives to give them help and support wherever they might be now. The idea that all things are transient is central to Buddhist teaching. Loss and impermanence are things to be accepted rather than causes of grief.
For further information on Parinirvana.
Tags: Buddhism, India, Nirvana Day, Parinirvana
Hello, I'm Deborah Swallow and, for the last fifteen years, I've worked in over thirty countries addressing the complexities of people working internationally across multiple cultures, so individuals and organisations alike can gain an authentic competitive edge and win in international markets. 