PHOTO: Monks celebrate ‘Buddha’s birthday’

Buddhist monks Tuesday carried jars of holy water during a ceremony in Temanggung, Central Java, Indonesia. The holy water ceremony is part of the observation of Vesak Day, which is commonly known as “Buddha’s birthday” — observed during the full moon in May or June. The holy day celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Siddhartha Gautama, considered the founder of Buddhism.

Several days before the ceremony, a ritual is performed where the holy water is obtained from a pristine spring in the Temanggung district, which is then stored until Vesak.