Buddha Jayanti

Buddha was born in Nepal (at Lumbini) and his religion is the second most popular in the kingdom. On May 6th (a day of the full moon) Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment and salvation are celebrated across Nepal and of course, worldwide. Monastries are cleaned, statues polished, bright new prayer flags put up and monks prepare to dance.

At the hub of the celebrations are Bouddhanath Stupa (the largest in the world) and Swayambhu Stupa, the monkey temple thought to be the resting place of Ne - the wandering sage who drained Kathmandu Valley and founded Nepal. Both stupas are in Kathmandu Valley and on the Jayanti day, people reach reach them before dawn to make their way around (always in a clockwise direction) and make offerings to the many images of Lord Buddha at each site.