Parinirvana Day / Nirvana Day

Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is celebrated by the Mahayana Buddhist in East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Mahayana Buddhists remember the Buddha’s death when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80 and commemorate his enlightenment at the moment of his death. 

Believers celebrate his passing as he reached the state of nirvana, a place of peace and freedom from this physical world and its misery. Buddhism teaches that Nirvana is reached when all want and suffering is gone. Nirvana is believed to be the end of the cycle of death and rebirth.

Observances on this day include meditating, visiting temples or monasteries. In the monasteries, people bring presents such as goods, money, clothing or food.

They spend the day reflecting on life’s impermanence and constantly changing state and one’s own future death. Loss and impermanence are things to be accepted rather than causes of grief. Believers offer meditations for recently deceased family and friends to support them in their new existence in the afterlife.