Vice President Ansari extend greetings on Buddha Purnima

Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Saturday extended greetings to the people of country on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima.

"I extend my greetings and good wishes to the citizens of our country on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. Lord Buddha's timeless message of right conduct, universal love, compassion and tolerance continue to show the way to alleviate human suffering in our times," he said in his message.

"On this happy day, let us commit ourselves to tread the path shown by Buddha so that we can build a truly peaceful and humane society," he added.

Buddha's birthday, or Vesak Day (or Wesak), is celebrated on various dates in spring throughout the world, and each Buddhist culture has its own traditions for the day. It is usually observed during the

first full moon in May.

Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's three most important life stages on Vesak: Birth, Enlightenment and Death, which traditionally are said to have happened on the same day.

Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, while his mother stood holding onto a tree. Once born, it was said he took seven steps forward after which a lotus flower arose from each footstep. After which, it was said that it was his last rebirth and that he would become an enlightened one.