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Buddhist festivals

Full-moon days, new years and monastery festivals that remember the Buddha and his teachings.

About this tradition

Buddhism began in India more than 2,500 years ago with Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. He was born in Lumbini (now in Nepal), gained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and gave his first teaching at Sarnath.

Buddhism teaches compassion, mindfulness and freedom from suffering through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Many festivals are held on full-moon days.

Founder
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
Teachings
Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path
Texts
Tripitaka (Pali Canon) and other scriptures
Place of worship
Vihara, stupa or monastery
Main traditions
Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana

Tiny's pictures are digital illustrations. The outfits are respectful interpretations of traditional clothing, so real dress may differ in small details. Dates move every year for lunar festivals, so please check a local calendar.

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FAQ

Questions people ask

Quick answers about Tiny and this website.

What is Festivals by Tiny?

It is a free educational website where Tiny, our mascot, wears outfits inspired by festivals of India and the world. Each festival page tells you when it is celebrated, why, who started it, where it is popular, the popular dresses and a fun fact.

Who is Tiny?

Tiny is the friendly mascot created by wondermayank. On the home page you can chat with Tiny and ask things like "What is Diwali?" or "When is Holi?". On festival pages, Tiny shares a "Do you know?" fact.

Are the pictures real photos?

No. They are digital illustrations of Tiny. The outfits are respectful interpretations inspired by traditional clothing. Real regional or ceremonial dress can differ in details, so please use these pictures as an introduction and not as a strict guide.

Why do festival dates change every year?

Many festivals follow lunar or lunisolar calendars (Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist and Jain), so their dates on the usual calendar shift each year. We show the usual time of year. For the exact date, please check a local calendar or your community.

Does Tiny use the internet or an AI service?

No. Tiny answers from the festival information stored on this website, so it works without any outside AI service. Tiny can only answer questions about the festivals on this site.

How can I ask for a festival to be added?

Use the Contact button at the top of the page and tell us the festival name. We plan to add more festivals, including the Jewish, Zoroastrian and International pages that are coming soon.