| Buddha Purnima |
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| Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the Buddha is widely celebrated, on a full moon night in April/May. The Buddha was born on the Full Moon day in the month of Vaisakh in 563 BC. He achieved enlightenment as well as nirvana on the same date.
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| It is also believed that Yashodara, Gautam's wife, his charioteer Channa and even his horse Kantaka were born on the same day. On this day, Buddhists offer prayers in their temples. Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and Bodh Gaya in Bihar are the main centres of celebration.
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| Religions |
In India, religion is a way of life. It is an integral part of the entire Indian tradition. For the majority of Indians, religion permeates every aspect of life, from common-place daily chores to education and politics. Secular India is home to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other innumerable religious traditions. Hinduism is the dominant faith, practised by over 80% of the population. Besides Hindus, Muslims are the most prominent religious group and are an integral part of Indian society. In fact India has the second largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.
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| Read more about Indian Religions |
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