6 auspicious days to properly release animals in the 4th lunar month - Buddha's Birthday month 2026

Family and Society - The 2026 Buddha's Birthday season has 6 auspicious days for releasing animals, observing vegetarianism, and doing good deeds... The following is a guide on how to properly release animals to sow peace of mind and blessings for the family, help reduce anger, cultivate compassion, and sow seeds of goodness for the whole family during Buddha's Birthday.

Is Buddha's Birthday on the 8th or 15th day of the 4th lunar month?

The fourth lunar month – the season of Buddha's Birthday – sees many people observing vegetarianism, visiting temples, chanting scriptures, performing charitable acts, and releasing animals. The atmosphere of Buddha's Birthday always brings a feeling of peace of mind. People speak more softly to each other, are less irritable, and are more prone to compassion...

However, many people wonder why some places consider the 8th day of the 4th lunar month as Buddha's Birthday, while others celebrate it on the 15th day of the 4th lunar month?

This stems from the differences between Buddhist traditions and the history of Buddhist dissemination in various East Asian countries.

Accordingly, the 8th day of the 4th lunar month was traditionally Buddha's Birthday in some ancient Buddhist traditions in China, Japan, and many East Asian countries in the past.

However, the current International Vesak Celebration, chosen by many countries and Buddhist churches, is usually held on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month to commemorate three major events simultaneously: the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into Nirvana.

Therefore, the fourth lunar month has two important milestones: the 8th and the 15th of the fourth lunar month. Both days are considered auspicious times for doing good deeds, practicing spiritual discipline, and cultivating compassion...

In 2026, the main Vesak Buddha Day celebration falls on Sunday, May 31st – the 15th day of the 4th lunar month. Besides the main celebration, many people choose auspicious days in the month to release animals, observe vegetarianism, chant scriptures, perform charitable acts, and offer prayers for the well-being of their families.

The fourth lunar month has two important milestones: the 8th and the 15th of the fourth lunar month – these are auspicious times for doing good deeds, practicing spiritual discipline, and cultivating compassion... (Image from the internet)

6 important days of the 2026 Buddha's Birthday season

Here are 6 popular dates for the 2026 Buddha's Birthday celebration.

1. The first day of the fourth lunar month (May 17th) marks the beginning of the Buddha's birthday month, a time to make new vows.

The first day of the Buddha's Birthday month, the 1st day of the 4th lunar month (which has already passed), signifies opening the heart and beginning good deeds. Many families start observing a vegetarian diet at the beginning of the month, visiting temples to worship Buddha, gently releasing animals, and praying for peace and well-being for their parents and children. At this time, many temples begin to display Buddhist flags, preparing for the Vesak season.

2. The 8th day of the 4th lunar month (May 24th) - the day of Buddha's birth.

In many East Asian countries, April 8th is still considered the traditional Buddha's Birthday. This day is suitable for properly releasing animals, giving alms, making offerings, and performing good deeds. In particular, the atmosphere on the 8th is usually calmer than on the 15th due to fewer crowds, allowing many people to find inner peace.

If you want to release fish into the wild, choose healthy fish and release them into clean water and a suitable environment so that the creatures can continue to live...

When releasing fish, choose healthy fish and place them in clean water and a suitable environment so they can continue to live. (Image from the internet)

3. The 10th day of the 4th lunar month (May 26th) - an auspicious day for praying for health and making offerings.

The 1st and 8th days of the 4th lunar month have passed, leaving 4 auspicious days for releasing animals.

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The 10th day of the 4th lunar month is considered an auspicious day to pray for health and dedicate merit. This is the middle of the Vesak season – many people observe a vegetarian diet or chant scriptures continuously for several days.

Some people choose this day to pray for their family's health, dedicate merit to deceased loved ones, reduce negative karma, and practice living a slower, gentler life…

If you don't like crowded places, then this is a pretty suitable day to go to the temple and release animals.

4. On the 12th day of the 4th lunar month (May 28th), do good deeds before the full moon.

There's an old saying: "Good fortune before the full moon is as powerful as rising water" - this isn't superstition, but rather a reminder that when a kind heart is consistently nurtured, people are more likely to transform themselves.

Therefore, many people choose the 12th to prepare their minds for the major ceremony, practice vegetarianism, help those in need, and do good deeds without seeking recognition or reward.

5. The 14th day of the 4th lunar month (May 30th) - the night before Buddha's Birthday

This is the time of year when the Vesak atmosphere is most pronounced. Many temples organize candle-lighting ceremonies, Buddha bathing rituals, chanting, and charitable activities… Please note:

- If you plan to release animals on this day, you should go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the harsh sun.

- Do not release animals simply because it's a trend.

- The most important thing is still to be clear-headed and have genuine compassion for the creatures being released.

6. The full moon of the fourth lunar month (May 31st) - the main Vesak Buddha's Birthday celebration in 2026.

This is the most important day of the month. Many people choose to observe a vegetarian diet for the entire day, recite the Universal Gate Sutra, the Medicine Buddha Sutra, or the Sutra of Compassion, perform charitable acts, and dedicate the merits to their ancestors and parents.

For many long-time practitioners of Buddhism, the full moon of the fourth lunar month is not a time to pray for many things for themselves, but rather an opportunity to remind themselves to live more kindly, to be less angry, and to be more compassionate towards others.

Releasing animals into the wild requires saving the right creatures in danger, releasing them into the right environment, and doing so with a gentle heart. (Image from the internet)

How to release animals correctly to make it truly meaningful?

During the Buddha's Birthday season, if releasing animals is done merely as a trend, for show, or unintentionally causes further harm to creatures, then that act of kindness will lose much of its meaning.

Some things to know when releasing animals into the wild.

- Do not order or buy birds or fish in advance because the sellers will catch, collect, and keep the creatures in captivity until they are exhausted;

- Avoid releasing animals into unsuitable habitats (such as releasing fish into polluted water).

- One should not film themselves excessively boasting about their good deeds.

It is not advisable to pre-order birds and fish to avoid them being hunted, collected, and kept in captivity until they are exhausted. (Image from the internet)

There are many ways to release animals into the wild.

The best animals to release are:

- Saving the right lives that are in danger;

- Release them into the appropriate environment;

- The act of releasing animals should be done with a calm mind;

- Don't follow trends, don't compete in terms of quantity.

Furthermore, releasing birds, fish, and animals isn't the only way to practice liberation. Giving a meal to the hungry, providing medicine to the sick, rescuing an abandoned cat, or donating a book of kindness... are also ways to alleviate the suffering of living beings.

During the Buddha's Birthday season, there's no need to do anything grand. Just a vegetarian meal, a kind word, or a small act of kindness can sow seeds of goodness for the whole month. Sometimes, it is these simple things that touch people's hearts much more deeply.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/6-ngay-dep-de-phong-sinh-dung-cach-thang-4-am-thang-phat-dan-2026-17226052514442855.htm