Mahayana Buddhists celebrate February 8 and 15 every year Nirvana Day or Parinirvana. It is believed that on the day before his physical death, Shakyamuni Buddha during meditation achieved parinirvana – the main goal of Buddhist practice.

Nirvana is translated from Sanskrit as “extinction”, “absence of excitement” and means freedom from suffering, addiction, desires, samsara, i.e. the main goal of every living being. In Buddhism, a distinction is made between nirvana with a residue (eradication of the obscuration of consciousness) and nirvana without a residue (parinirvana). Parinirvana itself can only be attained after physical death, when a person attains complete enlightenment.

On February 8 (15), Buddhists meditate, visit temples and bring gifts. IN Nirvana Day it is customary to think about the possible loss of loved ones, one’s own death and the impermanence of this world.