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Festivals
Most people mark a birth on one date and a death on another. This tradition holds that for one man, birth, awakening, and death all landed on the exact same day, decades apart.
Buddhist tradition holds that three of the most important moments in Siddhartha Gautama's life fell on the very same day of the year. That day is the full moon of the month of Vaisakha. His birth, his enlightenment, and his final passing are all remembered together on this one date, though they happened decades apart across his long life.
According to the traditional accounts, Siddhartha was born in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, to Queen Maya and King Suddhodana. The texts describe his birth with striking, dream-like detail. Maya is said to have given birth while standing, holding the branch of a sal tree for support. The infant is said to have taken seven steps right after birth, and spoken of his own purpose in the world.
The rest of this story, read aloud, and a new one every day.