Additional photography by Manori Wijesekera, Kumala Wijeratne and Anuradha Gunarathne.
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – This weekend, Buddhists around the world celebrated Vesak, the full-moon observance that marks the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. The Sri Lankan celebration of Vesak is among the largest in the world.
The holiday brings worshippers and revelers alike into the streets, and colorful lanterns decorate homes. Citizens distribute free food and refreshments to passersby in an attempt to earn merit.
In Sri Lanka, the two-day Vesak festivities include puppet shows, lantern competitions and prayer. People celebrate Vesak, named for the month in the Indian calendar, worldwide on the first full-moon day in May. Click the feature photo essay below.
