A guide to celebrating Buddha’s Birthday in Hong Kong

Buddha’s Birthday celebrates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. According to legend, when he was born, nine celestial dragons appeared in the sky and sprayed down two streams of pure fragrant water to gently bathe him – a moment symbolising purification and new beginnings. Today, this story inspires the ‘bathing the Buddha’ ritual, one of the holiday’s most iconic traditions. In Hong Kong, many gather for this deeply spiritual occasion and take time to reflect upon the timeless teachings of Buddha.

Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which typically falls in May. Since 1999, this day has been designated as a public holiday in Hong Kong, making it the only Chinese traditional religious holiday recognised as a public holiday. In 2026, Buddha’s Birthday falls on Sunday, May 24. Since the celebration falls on a weekend, the public holiday will be observed on Monday, May 25.

The Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated in numerous ways throughout Hong Kong. One of the key ceremonies that takes place on this day is the bathing of the Buddha, which sees water being poured over small Buddha statues to symbolise the purification of the soul, spiritual cleansing, and the washing away of negative energy. You’ll see this done at various temples throughout the city, but some of the more popular spots include Po Lin Monastery and Chi Lin Nunnery.

Other popular activities include visiting temples and monasteries to offer prayers, make offerings, and chant sutras. Some may also choose to enjoy vegetarian meals not only to purify their souls, but also to cleanse their digestive systems.

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There is also a special delicacy associated with Buddha’s Birthday called ‘yin sai cake’. These little green cakes, typically filled with sweetened lotus seed paste or red bean paste, are made from Indian Pluchea, and their bittersweet flavour represents the ups and downs of life. These treats are said to have healing properties that can help detoxify our bodies and warm our stomachs.

This sacred holiday is usually celebrated across various Buddhist temples and monasteries in Hong Kong. The most popular celebration takes place at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, home to the famous Tian Tan Buddha statue – aka The Big Buddha – as well as locations such as the Chi Lin Nunnery and the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery.