Buddha Day Festival

Saturday 2 May 11am – 4pm

Buddha Day, also known as Wesak, is the most important day of the year in the Buddhist calendar and is celebrated by Buddhists around the world. It marks the historical moment approximately 2,600 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama awakened to become the Buddha.

Please join us to celebrate and have gratitude for the life of the Buddha, whose Enlightenment revealed the potential for all human beings to experience freedom from suffering.

Come along for a shared lunch after the morning meditation class, and a Skills Auction to raise money for the MBC! Stay for talks on the Buddha’s life and awakening, before ending the day with a puja (Buddhist ritual), in which Eva will be having her mitra ceremony. Mitra is a Sanskrit word for 'friend', and the ceremony marks a person's commitment to practicing the Buddha's teachings within our community. All are warmly invited to join us in this joyful celebration of the Sangha.

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Venue: Melbourne Buddhist Centre/ 23 David Street, Brunswick
By Donation (Give what you can)
Please bring a plate of vegan/vegetarian food to share, as well as your friends and family
All Welcome

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Skills Auction Fundraiser (from 1pm)

Offer your talents and help raise money for the centre!

We invite you to join us at Buddha Day Festival for our next Skills Auction to help raise funds for the MBC! Whether you’re good with cooking, bicycle maintenance, or music, all contributions will play a significant role in raising funds for our centre, and making Buddha Day a truly memorable and enjoyable experience. In recent years, we’ve had people offering home-cooked meals, DIY home and garden jobs, and computer support, among many other creative offerings. If you would like offer your skills, please get in contact by emailing office@melbournebuddhistcentre.org.au.

Programme

Time	Activity
11am	Meditation
12pm	Shared Lunch (Bring a plate of vegan/vegetarian food)
1pm	Skills Auction
2pm	Talks and discussion
3pm	Puja (Buddhist ritual) and Mitra Ceremony
4pm	Finish

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a Buddhist or a regular at the centre?

Everyone is welcome, and we encourage you to bring your friends and family!

Do I need to book?

No, just turn up!

I am not a very good cook, what food should I bring?

A few simple suggestions: bread, dips, fruit, salad, and chips.

I can't make the whole day - can I come for just some of it?

Of course! You're welcome to come for whatever parts of the day you can make. Just try to turn up at one of the times on the programme so you don't miss part of a talk or meditation

What is puja?

A puja is a traditional Buddhist ritual that includes chanting and making offerings to help us connect with our ideals.

How much does the day cost?

We don't charge a fixed price for our festival days but instead invite you to make a donation to the centre to help us cover our running costs.