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Celebrating Traditional Buddhist Festivals At Bristol Buddhist Centre
 Several times a year we celebrate the traditional Buddhist Festivals here at the Bristol Buddhist Centre. The three main festivals of the year are Wesak (or Buddha Day) celebrated on or near-to the full-moon in May, Dharma Day at the full moon in July and Sangha Day at the full moon in November. We also celebrate the Parinirvana Festival at the full-moon in February - this commemorates the final passing into Nirvana of the Buddha at his death.
Celebrating the traditional Buddhist Festivals here as a Sangha in Bristol gives us the opportunity to gather together in large numbers to practise the Dharma - something which the Buddha recommended very strongly. A festival day is usually celebrated on the Sunday closest to the full-moon day and, when we can, we have a celebratory puja (literally meaning "worship", a ritual involving chanting and offerings) on the day itself.
Our day-long Sunday festivals often begin with a period or a whole morning of Buddhist meditation, followed by a shared lunch. Afternoon activities can include talks by members of the Bristol Buddhist Centre Sangha, workshops, question and answer sessions and other activities, for example, at our recent Buddha Day Festival we had a craft workshop for children. The day traditionally ends with a celebratory puja and we have a specially decorated shrine for the Festival day.
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