The birth of Sakyamuni Buddha not only introduced Buddhism to the world, but also led sentient beings to the path to liberation. Thereof, through the ceremony, we purify our bodies and cleanse ourselves of vexations and scattered minds. Also, we continuously propagate Buddha Dharma and the life of wisdom as a mission to make the Buddha’s light of compassion indefinitely shine on the world for benefiting all sentient beings.

Two thousand and five hundred years ago, Sakyamuni Buddha was born in northern India in a country called Lan Pi Ni Guo (蘭毗尼國). It was said when the Buddha was born the garden flowers blossomed simultaneously with his birth and nine dragons appeared in the sky. These dragons spit out fragrant water to bath baby Buddha. As soon as baby Buddha was born he walked seven steps forward and then pointed to the sky with one finger and to the earth with another. He then said: in heaven and on earth only I am the most honorable. After making that speech, he behaved like an ordinary baby. We call the birthday of Buddha the Feast Day of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Every year around August the eighth of the Chinese Lunar calendar, Buddha’s birthday, or the Feast Day of Sakyamuni Buddha, is celebrated in Chinese Buddhist temples by Buddhists. Temples are decorated to resemble the surroundings where the Buddha was born, offering are made of fragrant flowers and practitioners wash the baby prince Buddha’s statue with fragrant water as a symbol of paying tribute and gratitude to Buddha.