The Conversation: On Bodhi Day, Buddhists Commemorate Siddhartha Gautama’s Enlightenment by Lighting Lamps to Combat Darkness

Dec. 8 marks the celebration of Bodhi Day in Japanese Buddhism. Bodhi means enlightenment or awakening in Sanskrit. It commemorates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha.

Buddhists throughout the world celebrate Bodhi Day, but they do not all celebrate Siddhartha's enlightenment on Dec. 8. In China, South Korea and Vietnam, his enlightenment is observed on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month. In 2025, this falls on Jan. 7.

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Megan Bryson, a scholar of Buddhism in East Asia, examines the ways in which individuals adapt Buddhism to their unique cultural contexts. Read the full article at The Conversation.

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