Vesak day in the context of "Nirvāṇa"

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⭐ Core Definition: Vesak day

Vesak (Pali: Vesākha; Sanskrit: vaiśākha), also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Visak Bochea and Buddha Day, is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as in Tibet and Mongolia. It is among the most important Buddhist festivals. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Pali: Nibbāna, Sanskrit: Nirvāṇa), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism, and Navayana.

The name Vesak is derived from the Pali term vesākha or Sanskrit vaiśākha for the lunar month of Vaisakha, which is considered the month of Buddha's birth. In Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name (Vaiśākha) and derived variants of it.

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Vesak day in the context of Religion in Brunei

Among religions in Brunei, Sunni Islam is predominant. In 2021, the government census showed that 82.1% of Brunei's population is Muslim. However, other religions also have a considerable foothold in Brunei: 6.7% of the population is Christian and another 6.3% is Buddhist. The remaining 4.9% subscribe to various religions, including indigenous religions.

Islam is the state religion of Brunei. Freedom of religion and the right to practice privately are nominally guaranteed. Furthermore, some non-Islamic holidays, such as Lunar New Year, Christmas, Vesak day and Gawai Dayak, are recognised. These rights, however, are limited in practice: religious education is controlled, even in the Chinese, Christian and private schools. Brunei's penal code criminalizes efforts to promote religions other than Islam to Muslims or the non-religious, including persuading religious conversion, exposing Muslim children to other faiths, or opposing Islamic authorities. It also punishes those who assist in such acts. These provisions marginalize non-Muslims and non-believers, severely restricting their religious freedom in violation of international human rights standards. Non-Muslims must be at least 14 years and 7 months old if they want to convert to another religion. A minor will automatically become a Muslim if their parents convert to Islam.

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