UN Vesak celebrations at Ayutthaya, Bangkok on May 19-20

By Prasanna Brahmana

The International Council for Day of Vesak (ICDV), holding consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has announced the scheduling of the 19th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations for 2024. These celebrations are set to take place on May 19th and 20th, hosted at the Auditorium Hall of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) in Ayutthaya and the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

The key organizing bodies for this event include the ICDV, MCU, Mahamakut Buddhist University, the Department of Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Culture in Thailand, and the National Office of Buddhism.

The United Nations officially recognized the thrice sacred days of Vesak, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Buddha Gautama, during its General Assembly in 1999. The inaugural celebration occurred at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2001.