Buddha Day Book

Discusses how the celebration of Wesak, or Buddha Day, came about, what it signifies, and the ways in which it is celebrated today.

Uma Krishnaswami - Children's Literature

The publisher's "Celebrating Cultures" series highlights cultural celebrations held throughout the United States. Other titles in the series include Christmas, Hanukkah, Mardi Gras, Oktoberfest, and Powwow. Opening with an introduction to the Buddha and his life, the text in this volume goes on to place the holiday in the context of Prince Siddhartha's enlightenment, his teaching as Gautama Buddha, and his passage from material life. Subsequent chapters detail the contemporary celebration of Buddha Day, or Vesak, in countries around the world. One spread focuses on celebrations in the United States, where Buddhists across the country observe the day. Examples in sidebars are the Peace and Happiness parade in Chicago, and ceremonies in Hawaii, Los Angeles, and New York. A map on these pages occupies a large portion of the spread, but does little more than show the location of these celebrations. Meditation and chanting are briefly explained, as is the role of statues, flowers, and lanterns in this holiday in particular and in Buddhist observance in general. We learn about the Buddhist flag, first flown in Sri Lanka in 1885, representing oneness among all Buddhists. A brief reading list, an Internet resource list, along with two pages of facts, a short index and a glossary round out the book. 2003, Weigl, Ages 7 to 10.