Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day, also known as Enlightenment Day, is a Buddhist holiday celebrated on December 8th by Mahayana Buddhists. It commemorates the day that Siddhartha Gautama, after six years of ascetic practice, is said to have attained enlightenment (bodhi) under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India, thereby becoming the Buddha.

While Theravada Buddhism celebrates Vesak, which commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, Bodhi Day specifically focuses on the enlightenment experience.

Practices on Bodhi Day vary among different Buddhist traditions and communities. Common observances include:

• Meditation: Spending time in meditation is a central practice on Bodhi Day, reflecting the Buddha's own path to enlightenment.
• Study of the Dharma: Reading and discussing Buddhist scriptures (sutras) and teachings is a common way to deepen understanding and practice.
• Offerings: Making offerings to temples and monasteries, or practicing generosity (dana) in other ways.
• Recitation of Sutras: Chanting or reciting important Buddhist sutras, such as the Diamond Sutra or the Heart Sutra.
• Reflection on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path: Considering the core teachings of Buddhism and how they apply to one's own life.
• Decorating a Bodhi Tree: Some families decorate a Ficus tree (or another suitable plant) with lights and ornaments to represent the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Often, strings of beads are hung to symbolize the interconnectedness of all things.
• Eating Rice and Milk Porridge: A traditional food associated with Bodhi Day is rice and milk porridge, said to be the first meal offered to the Buddha after his enlightenment by a village woman named Sujata.