| Parinirvana Day | |
|---|---|
 Hanging scroll depicting Buddha's Nirvana | |
| Also called | Nirvana Day |
| Observed by | Buddhists |
| Significance | Day when the Buddha is said to have achievedParinirvana, or completeNirvana, upon the death of his physical body |
| Date | 8 February or 15 February |
| Frequency | annual |
| Part ofa series on |
| Buddhism |
|---|
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Parinirvana Day, orNirvana Day is aMahayanaBuddhistholiday celebrated inEast Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines. By some it is celebrated on8 February, but by most on the15 February.[1] InBhutan, it is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the fourth month of the Bhutanese calendar. It celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achievedParinirvana, or completeNirvana, upon the death of his physical body.[2]
Passages from the recitations ofNibbana Sutta orNirvana Sutra describing the Buddha's last days of life are often read on Parinirvana Day. Other observances include meditation and visits toBuddhist temples and monasteries. Also, the day is a time to think about one's own futuredeath and on the deaths of loved ones. This thought process reflects the Buddhist teachings onimpermanence.
Some Western Buddhist groups also celebrate Parinirvana Day.[3]
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