Buddhist Communities Unite at the Texas Capitol to Celebrate Third Annual Vesak
Buddhist communities representing diverse traditions from across Texas gathered at the Texas State Capitol on Friday, May 15, 2026, to commemorate the Third Annual Vesak Celebration. Adding profound spiritual significance to the celebration, Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center of Fort Worth presented a sacred Buddha relic for public viewing and veneration from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., allowing devotees to pay homage and reflect on the Buddha’s teachings of peace and compassion.
Buddhist around the world celebrate Vesak to commemorate the three sacred milestones in the life of the Buddha – his birth, achievement of enlightenment and passing in to Mahaparinibbana.
Opening the ceremony, the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara of the Walk for Peace emphasized that the gathering at the Texas State Capitol was not only to commemorate the threefold coincidence in the Buddha’s life, but also to honor the timeless teachings that inspire us to live with peace, compassion, wisdom, and loving-kindness, and to foster unity among all beings.
“This recognition (by the State of Texas) is more than ceremonial declaration”, he said adding, “it is a message to the world that the peace still matters, the compassion still matters and that the humanity still longs for kindness, understanding and harmony.”
In his message commemorating Vesak, Governor Greg Abbott recognized the important role of Buddhists in society, stating, “Buddhist communities contribute meaningfully to virtually every facet of public life, and Vesak Day provides an opportunity to commemorate their many contributions and to celebrate the rich cultural and spiritual legacy of Buddhism.”
In 2023, State Representative Salman Bhojani sponsored and helped pass three bills that are of great significance to the Buddhist community. One of them was the House Resolution 2304, which formally recognized Vesak Day in the State of Texas. This historic resolution was adopted by the Texas House of Representatives during the 88th Legislature on May 26, 2023.
“Although only a small number of us were able to attend that inaugural ceremony, it marked the first official Vesak Day celebration at the Texas State Capitol,” said Dr. Neeraj Bajracharya, General Secretary of the Nepalese Buddhist Association Texas.
Dr. Bajracharya also noted that the most significant Vesak celebration at the Texas State Capitol took place in 2025, when the Texas House of Representatives, during the 89th Legislature, formally recognized the importance of Vesak Day by passing a resolution in the presence of 59 venerable Buddhist monks representing all major Buddhist traditions and 14 countries around the world.
Although the House was not in session, this year’s Vesak celebration at the Texas State Capitol was equally significant. The event was blessed by the presence of more than 55 venerable monks representing all major Buddhist traditions, along with numerous members of the Buddhist community who came to Austin from different parts of Texas.
“Today’s celebration holds extraordinary significance because of the presence of the sacred Buddha relic. It serves as a powerful reminder of the Buddha’s timeless teachings and sends a profound message of peace, compassion, and unity to the entire nation and the world.”
