osophy and geography. The major festivals that are celebrated by most Buddhists are New Year, Buddha’s birthday, the festival of souls, and robe offering. In many Buddhist countries the New Year is celebrated in April. It usually lasts three days. Another festival is Buddha’s birthday. During this festival the birth of Gautama, celebrated on April 8 in China and Japan and on the last full moon on May in Southeast Asia. Buddhist communities celebrate by washing the statue of the infant Buddha and a basin of fragrant water filled with flower petals to honor the gods who bathed the Buddha immediately after his birth. The festival of souls id celebrated during July (in Japan), and August (in China). Buddhists believe that purgatory is opened and the souls of the dead are allowed to wonder about the world. The last festival celebrated by Buddhists is robe offering. This festival is celebrated in November at the end of rainy season. During this festival the laity present new yellow robber to the monks of their region. This robe is one that has been made in a single day or night.Hindus believe in souls and Buddhists do not. In Hindus religion it is believed that an individual should abolish all once and desires in addition to refraining from any temptations of sin in order to discipline himself or herself. Once all of these things are done, the perfect joy and harmony with the infinite spirit is reached. The infinite spirit refers to Hinduism belief that the soul never dies. Hindus believe that each time a body dies the soul is reborn into a new body. On the contrary, Buddhism believe in the Anatman or no soul. Buddhism sees human existence as made up of five bundles or Skandhas. These are material body of feelings, perceptions, predispositions or Karmic tendencies, and consciousness. Buddhists deny the permanent soul. Buddhists believe that as long as they follow the four noble truths they would be freed from th...
