VIRTUAL VESAK FESTIVAL 2021 - BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Blessings on the City, the Nation, and the World
Sunday 22nd May 2021 at 9:30 AM - 11.30 AM
Event Description
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Mississauga Celebration Square
300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1
Vesak is the holiest celebration of the Buddhists around the
globe which falls on the full moon day of May every year. It is a celebration
of three remarkable events of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing
away(Parinibbana/Parinirvana). If you would like to read more about Buddha’s
journey to enlightenment and his teaching please click on this link:
http://www.buddhanet.net/budmsg.htm
Also click HERE
to the Philosophy of Vesak by Venerable Dr. Madawela Punnaji
Mahathera.
Once again the organizing committee made the decision to
celebrate Vesak in person. This is dubbed as “Vesak Festival 2025: Buddha’s
Birthday celebration” and will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from
2.00 pm to 6.00 pm. at the Mississauga Celebration Square. This event will be
joined by all the Buddhist Temples in the Greater Toronto Area, Peel and York
Regions. The event includes: blessings chanting ceremonies by
Buddhist monks and nuns, the virtual Bathing Buddha ritual, traditional music
and dance, martial arts and much more!
This is a FREE event!
The 12th Annual Vesak Celebration marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha, an Enlightened Spiritual Leader who lived over 2,500 years ago. This free, public celebration will take place on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Mississauga Celebration Square.
The festivities will begin with a colorful parade around City Hall at 2:00 PM, followed by the official opening ceremony at 3:00 PM.
This is a vibrant, family-friendly event that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. Organized by four leading Buddhist temples — Fo Guang Shan Temple (FGS), West End Buddhist Temple & Meditation Centre (WEBMC), Cham Shan Temple (CST), and Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Tibetan Temple (KSDL) — the celebration brings together thousands in unity and joy.
Last year’s event drew over 7,000 attendees, including government representatives, public servants, and community members. This year, we anticipate more than 10,000 participants.
Highlights of the event include:
- Multicultural chants from the three major Buddhist traditions
- Cultural performances, including traditional songs, dances, and a Shaolin martial arts demonstration
- A South East Asian food-tasting experience
- The “Buddhism 101” booth, offering introductory insights and friendly Q&A with English-speaking volunteers
- Chanting and recitations in languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhalese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Burmese, Thai, Japanese, Laotian, Hindi, and Bengali
Monks, nuns, and lay devotees from across traditions and cultures will participate in ceremonial robes, adding to the spiritual beauty of the day.
Media Invitation:
Media representatives are invited to arrive at 1:00 PM for a special open forum interview with Reverend Dr. Bhante Saranapala, Chair of the Organizing Committee, known as the Urban Buddhist Monk, along with other committee members.
For more information, please visit:
🌐 www.vesakcelebration.org
📘 facebook.com/vesakcelebration
📹 Watch last year’s highlights: https://youtu.be/KIReeYzkP5w