2026 August Update - Buddha’s Birthday Celebrated at NSW Parliament House in Australia

Saga Dawa, the most sacred month for Buddhists worldwide, was marked across Australia this year with a series of celebrations honoring the Buddha’s birthday. On the tenth day of Saga Dawa (26 May 2026), a grand celebration was held at the Parliament House of New South Wales under the auspices of the Buddhist Council of NSW. The event was organized and coordinated by Yeshikhorlo, the local representative organization of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.

The ceremony opened with an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by a representative of Jongbopsa, Australia’s largest Korean Buddhist temple. This was followed by addresses from a number of distinguished guests: the Hon. Stephen Kamper MP, Minister for Multiculturalism from the governing party; Mr Mark Coure MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism from the Liberal Party (in the Westminster system, opposition parties appoint “shadow ministers” to closely monitor, scrutinize, and question their counterparts in the governing cabinet); the Hon. Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales; Ms Kellie Sloane MP, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party; and Mr Gawaine Powell Davies, a director of the Buddhist Council of NSW. Each speaker reflected on the virtues of the Buddha’s enlightened body, speech, and mind, and on how the Dharma brings benefit and peace to both society and the individual.

Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane remarked that while Parliament is not always a peaceful place, the Buddha had brought everyone together in a moment of calm and harmony that day. Another member of the governing party added that, however the political landscape might shift in the future—even should the Opposition one day form government—it was their hope that, regardless of party affiliation, everyone would continue to come together each year to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday. Premier Minns noted that Buddhism, as a religion defined by profound tolerance, compassion, and wisdom, stands as a symbol of Australia and one of the most important emblems of Sydney’s multicultural society.

Following the speeches, Khenpo Tsering Tashi of Yeshikhorlo presented traditional Tibetan khatas (ceremonial scarves) to the guests of honor. He then led the assembled guests, together with representatives of monastic communities and Buddhist organizations from the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, along with members of the wider Buddhist community, in a joint recitation of Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche’s Sadhana of the Sage: Treasury of Blessings.

The Premier and other principal guests then made light offerings before an image of the Buddha, the Lord of Sages. In turn, Yeshikhorlo presented each of the guests of honor with a photograph of a finely crafted Buddha statue modeled on the Great Buddha image at Bodh Gaya, a gift that was warmly received. Accepting her photograph, Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said with delight, “Thank you so much—this is such a beautiful and dignified image. I will definitely display it in my office.”

The ceremony continued with chanting: representatives of the Theravada and Mahayana traditions recited verses in praise of the Buddha in Pali and Chinese respectively, including a recitation of the Heart Sutra. Mewa Rinchen Dorje, a Tibetan singer based in the Blue Mountains, offered a devotional song in praise of the Buddha, the Lord of Sages. Bringing the program to a close, Khenpo Tsering Tashi spoke once more on the significance of the Buddhist Council of NSW and its role in uniting Buddhists across the state, and expressed his hope that Saga Dawa might one day be recognized as a national observance. He then offered words of thanks and a dedication of merit. With this, the celebration of the Buddha’s birthday concluded in an atmosphere of solemnity and joy.

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