Saka Dawa, is one of the most sacred of Buddhist holidays, when we celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death (parinirvana) of the Buddha Shakyamuni1.

The merit of any good deeds that you perform during this month are considered to be multiplied many times over — by as much as one hundred million times 2 — so it is an excellent time to dedicate ourselves to all kinds of spiritually positive actions.

The Saka Dawa observations take place in the fourth Tibetan month. Most holy of all is the full moon day of Saka Dawa, the 15th day of the month, which is the date most commonly associated with not only Buddha’s birth but also his enlightenment and parinirvana.  In 2026 this date falls on May 31, 2026.

At DNKL we celebrate Saka Dawa annually at our Nyungne Purification Practice Retreat