Festival dates · 2027
Also Vesak · Buddha Jayanti
Vaishakha Shukla Purnima. The date in 21 cities, computed for local sunrise, with the tithi times.
The cities split across Wed, 19 May and Thu, 20 May this year: the tithi boundary falls between their sunrises. The table shows every city.
| City | Date | Tithi (local time) | Kathmandu date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia and New Zealand | |||
| Sydney | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 9:00 pm | same day |
| Melbourne | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 9:00 pm | same day |
| Brisbane | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 9:00 pm | same day |
| Perth | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 6:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 7:00 pm | same day |
| Adelaide | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:04 pm → Thu, 20 May, 8:30 pm | same day |
| Canberra | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 9:00 pm | same day |
| Hobart | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 9:00 pm | same day |
| Darwin | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 8:04 pm → Thu, 20 May, 8:30 pm | same day |
| Auckland | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 10:34 pm → Thu, 20 May, 11:00 pm | same day |
| Nepal | |||
| Kathmandu | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 4:19 pm → Thu, 20 May, 4:45 pm | — |
| United States | |||
| New York | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 6:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 7:00 am | same day |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | Wednesday 19 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 5:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 6:00 am | Thu, 20 May |
| Houston | Wednesday 19 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 5:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 6:00 am | Thu, 20 May |
| Chicago | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 5:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 6:00 am | same day |
| Washington DC | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 6:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 7:00 am | same day |
| Boston | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 6:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 7:00 am | same day |
| Atlanta | Thursday 20 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 6:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 7:00 am | same day |
| San Francisco Bay Area | Wednesday 19 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 3:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 4:00 am | Thu, 20 May |
| Los Angeles | Wednesday 19 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 3:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 4:00 am | Thu, 20 May |
| Seattle | Wednesday 19 May 2027 | Wed, 19 May, 3:34 am → Thu, 20 May, 4:00 am | Thu, 20 May |
Rule: the day the tithi is current at local sunrise (udaya tithi). Vaishakha Purnima. Theravada countries date Vesak by their own lunar calendars — usually the same day, occasionally a month apart.
The full moon of Vaishakha, on which Buddhists mark the birth, the enlightenment and the final passing of the Buddha. In Nepal it is Buddha Jayanti, kept at Lumbini, his birthplace, and at Swayambhu and Boudha in the Kathmandu valley. Theravada countries call it Vesak and date it by their own lunar calendars, which usually, but not always, give the same day.
Dana (giving), the precepts, lamps and processions; for Hindus it is also a Purnima with its own bathing and fasting customs.
In the glossary: buddha · buddha nature.
Thursday 20 May 2027. Vaishakha Shukla Purnima; the tithi runs Wed, 19 May, 8:34 pm to Thu, 20 May, 9:00 pm Sydney time.
Thursday 20 May 2027 in Kathmandu. Vaishakha Shukla Purnima; the tithi runs Wed, 19 May, 4:19 pm to Thu, 20 May, 4:45 pm Nepal time.
Thursday 20 May 2027 in New York, Wednesday 19 May 2027 in Los Angeles. US sunrises fall ten to fifteen hours behind Kathmandu's, so when the tithi ends in that gap the US keeps the festival a day earlier than Nepal.
Because the day is decided by which civil day the tithi (lunar day) is current at local sunrise. Sydney's sunrise is four to six hours ahead of Kathmandu's and New York's ten hours behind, so a tithi that ends between two sunrises gives a different day. In 2027 the cities split across Wed, 19 May and Thu, 20 May.
Sun and Moon positions from Meeus' algorithms with the Lahiri ayanamsa, amanta lunar months named by the solar ingress inside them, and the day on which the tithi is current at local sunrise (udaya tithi). Tithi boundaries are accurate to a few minutes; a boundary within minutes of sunrise is worth checking against your temple's panchang.
Other years: Buddha Purnima 2026. Nearby: Ram Navami · Guru Purnima · all festivals.
See also: the full-year calendar by city · why festival dates differ between Nepal, India and Australia.
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