Editing Vesak (section)

==History==
[[File:The birth of the Buddha; scene with Queen Maya Wellcome V0046076.jpg|thumb|[[Maya (mother of the Buddha)|Queen Maya]] holds onto a branch of a tree while giving birth to the Buddha, who is received by the [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra]] as other gods look on.]]
Although Buddhist festivals have centuries-old tradition, the first conference of the [[World Fellowship of Buddhists]] held in [[Sri Lanka]] in 1950 formalized the decision to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha's birthday across multiple Buddhist countries. The resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows:
{{blockquote|That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the gracious act of His Majesty, the [[King of Nepal|Maharaja of Nepal]] in making the full-moon day of Vesak a [[Culture of Nepal#Festivals and celebrations|Public Holiday in Nepal]], earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity.<ref>{{Cite web|title = World Fellowship of Buddhists Second Two-Year Plan (B.E. 2544-2545/2001-2002)|url = http://www.bdcu.org.au/bddronline/bddr11no3/wfbs2ypn.html#plan1|website = Buddha Dhyana Dana Review Online|access-date = 2015-12-25|archive-date = 12 February 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200212112707/http://www.bdcu.org.au/bddronline/bddr11no3/wfbs2ypn.html#plan1|url-status = live}}</ref>}}
On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the death of [[Buddha Gautama]]. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world. In India, Vaishakh Purnima day is also known as Buddha Jayanti day and has been traditionally accepted as Buddha's birth day.

In 2000, the [[United Nations|United Nations (UN)]] resolved to internationally observe the day of Vesak at its headquarters and offices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly: 54/115. International recognition of the Day of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices|url=http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGARsn/1999/192.pdf|publisher=United Nations|access-date=6 February 2012|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714004347/http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGARsn/1999/192.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>