Editing Vesak (section)

=== Outside Asia ===

====In Canada====
An annual event known as ''Vesak: Buddha's Birthday'' is celebrated in [[Toronto]] in its three major three Buddhist temples, that represent the three main branches of Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vesakcelebration.com/|title=vesak celebration|website=vesak2014|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930213038/https://www.vesakcelebration.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Held at [[Mississauga|Mississauga Celebration Square]], it features a number of Buddhist-themed events and activities, as well as cultural acts from Asia, including China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sumeru-books.com/tag/mississauga/ |title=Mississauga Archives - |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308150620/http://www.sumeru-books.com/tag/mississauga/ |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/4518929-buddhists-to-mark-buddha-s-birthday-at-celebration-square/|title=Buddhists to mark Buddha's birthday at Celebration Square|first=Nouman|last=Khalil|date=14 May 2014|website=Mississauga.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://culture.mississauga.ca/event/celebration-square/vesak-buddha%E2%80%99s-birthday-celebration|title=Vesak, Buddha's Birthday Celebration|date=11 April 2016|website=Mississauga Culture|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727053431/https://culture.mississauga.ca/event/celebration-square/vesak-buddha%E2%80%99s-birthday-celebration|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''Vesak in Ottawa: Buddha's Birthday'' is celebrated in Ottawa. In May 2012, Visita Leelaratna organized a memorable occasion, Vesak, in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. In commemoration of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing away, the event aims to bring together various Buddhist groups around the world.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTJtNyqFhdI |title=Vesak in Ottawa Founder Visita Leelaratna: vision to bring the various communities together |date=March 31, 2020 |access-date=1 September 2024 |archive-date=1 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901172051/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mTJtNyqFhdI |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.buddhistdoor.net/news/mayor-jim-watson-proclaims-vesak-day-in-ottawa-may-14-2014 |title=Mayor Jim Watson Proclaims Vesak Day in Ottawa, May 14, 2014 |publisher=Buddhist Door}}</ref> The commemoration has grown over the years, incorporating noteworthy occasions such as the unveiling of the International Buddhist flag at Ottawa's City Hall and official proclamations from regional authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.buddhistdoor.net/news/mayor-jim-watson-proclaims-vesak-day-in-ottawa-may-14-2014 |title=Mayor Jim Watson Proclaims Vesak Day in Ottawa, May 14, 2014 |publisher=Buddhist Door |access-date=1 September 2024 |archive-date=9 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109125712/https://www2.buddhistdoor.net/news/mayor-jim-watson-proclaims-vesak-day-in-ottawa-may-14-2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vesak_in_Ottawa_Proclamation_Certificate.jpg | title=English: Ottawa has proclaimed Vesak Day | date=7 May 2017 }}</ref> With speeches from prominent people, artistic performances, and community initiatives aimed at fostering peace and understanding, the Vesak in Ottawa event has expanded throughout the years. The first official Buddhist road sign in the world and Canada was started in Ottawa by Visita Leelaratna, the founder of Buddhist Embassy®️  <ref>[https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/canada_e/Cultural_Events/2017/Vesak_Day_2017.html Exhibition of the Japan Booth at the Ottawa Vesak Day celebrations]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuNY1TbThqs |title=The first official road sign in the world and Canada was started in Ottawa by Visita Leelaratna| website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

====In United States====
The celebration of Vesak or Buddha's Birthday in the United States differs among different Buddhist communities, depending on their ethnicity and nationality.

In [[Maui]], [[Hawaii]] the community is usually invited to celebrate Vesak Day (the birth of Buddha) on the full moon of [[Vaisakha]] at Chua Tu Hanh Buddhist Temple in Kahului, where there is guided sitting meditation and dharma talk by a Zen master; which is followed by the bathing ceremony of the baby Buddha and a joyful meal to end the evening.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/religion/2019/05/local-religion-in-brief-87/|title=Local Religion In Brief Birth of Buddha to be celebrated|date=17 May 2019}}</ref>
The state of [[Hawaii]] has officially recognized April 8 of each year as "Buddha Day", which celebrates the birth of [[Gautama Buddha]].

In the [[Bay Area]] of [[California]], the Japanese celebration on April 8 has also been significant for several decades. In 1968 the first [[circumambulation]] of Mt. Tamalpais to celebrate Buddha's Birthday was conducted. Starting in 1969 at [[Tassajara Zen Mountain Center]], ''Hana-Matsuri (花ーまつり - flower festival)'' was celebrated each spring. Dressed in formal black robes, the roughly 70 monks and students form a formal procession to the Horse Pasture with the leader periodically ringing a small, clear bell. A temporary stone altar was built under a huge oak tree in a gorgeous field of green grass and abundant wildflowers; a small statue of a baby Buddha was placed upon it in a metal basin. Then each person, in turn, approaches the altar, and ladle one thin-lipped bamboo dipperful of sweet green tea over the statue, bow, and walk to one side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/index.php?eID=32066|title=2014 Hanamatsuri Bazaar - Japanese and Buddhist Cultural Festival (2 Days) &#124; Japanese-City.com|website=www.japanese-city.com|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726045539/https://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/index.php?eID=32066|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[New York City|New York]] celebrates the ''International Lotus Lantern Parade'', an annual event held at [[Union Square Park]]. The event celebrates the Buddha's birthday and ''Yeon Deung Hoe'' (연등회,燃燈會), a Korean lantern celebration that is held during ''Vesak''. The festival features a number of Buddhist themed events and is started off by numerous Buddhist centers of Japanese, Korean and Sri Lankan origins for example.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://interfaithcenter.org/archives/5318|title=The 25th International Lotus Lantern Parade for the Celebration of Buddha's Birthday! &#124; ICNY|website=interfaithcenter.org|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521093615/http://interfaithcenter.org/archives/5318|url-status=dead}}</ref>