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Welcome to a comprehensive collection of 50 General Knowledge questions related to Mahayana New Year, a significant and sacred celebration in the world of Buddhism. Mahayana New Year, also known as Buddha Jayanti, marks the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. This special occasion is celebrated with reverence, devotion, and a deep understanding of Buddhist principles.
These one-word answer gk questions encompass various aspects of Mahayana New Year, including its cultural significance, traditions, and the teachings of Buddhism. Whether you are a student seeking to broaden your general knowledge or someone curious about this important Buddhist festival, these questions are here to enrich your understanding and appreciation of Mahayana New Year. So, let’s explore the world of Buddhism and the traditions surrounding this auspicious occasion through these informative questions.
50 GK Questions on Mahayana New Year
Q. What is Mahayana New Year also known as?
Answer: Buddha Jayanti
Q. In which month does Mahayana New Year typically fall?
Answer: January
Q. What is the main Buddhist holiday celebrated during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Buddha’s Birth
Q. What is the other term for Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: Northern Buddhism
Q. In which country is Mahayana New Year widely celebrated?
Answer: Nepal
Q. What is the traditional greeting used during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: “Namo Buddhaya” (Homage to the Buddha)
Q. Mahayana New Year is celebrated to commemorate the birth of which important figure in Buddhism?
Answer: Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha)
Q. In which lunar month does Mahayana New Year usually fall?
Answer: Vesak
Q. What is the significance of lighting lamps and candles during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Symbolizes enlightenment and the victory of light over darkness
Q. Which color is commonly associated with Mahayana New Year celebrations?
Answer: White
Q. What is the name of the ceremonial procession held during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Wesak Lantern Procession
Q. What is the traditional food often prepared and shared during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Sweet rice pudding
Q. What is the main objective of Mahayana New Year celebrations?
Answer: Promote peace, compassion, and enlightenment
Q. In Mahayana Buddhism, what do the lotus flowers symbolize?
Answer: Purity and spiritual growth
Q. What does “Vesak” mean in Pali, the language of Theravada Buddhism?
Answer: Buddha’s Birthday
Q. What is the significance of the Bodhi tree in Mahayana New Year celebrations?
Answer: It is believed to be the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.
Q. Which ancient Buddhist scripture is often recited during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: The Tripitaka (Three Baskets)
Q. What does “Dharma” refer to in Buddhism?
Answer: The teachings and the path to enlightenment
Q. What is the name of the lotus-shaped lanterns displayed during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Kongming lanterns
Q. In Mahayana Buddhism, who is Avalokiteshvara known as?
Answer: The Bodhisattva of Compassion
Q. What is the traditional attire worn during Mahayana New Year celebrations?
Answer: White robes
Q. What is the practice of offering alms to monks called during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Dana
Q. In which country is the Mahayana New Year a public holiday?
Answer: Sri Lanka
Q. What is the purpose of pouring water over Buddha statues during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Symbolizes the cleansing of one’s sins and impurities
Q. What is the significance of the eight-spoked Dharma wheel in Buddhism?
Answer: Represents the Eightfold Path to enlightenment
Q. Which animal is commonly associated with Buddha’s birth?
Answer: Elephant
Q. What does “Sangha” refer to in Buddhism?
Answer: The monastic community of Buddhist monks and nuns
Q. Which Buddhist festival coincides with Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Songkran (Thai New Year)
Q. What is the name of the traditional dance often performed during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: The Ramvong dance
Q. What is the primary language of Buddhist scriptures in Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: Sanskrit
Q. What is the traditional music instrument played during Mahayana New Year celebrations?
Answer: Gongs and drums
Q. In which country is the Mahayana New Year known as “Buddha Purnima”?
Answer: India
Q. What is the name of the sacred pond in Lumbini, Nepal, associated with Buddha’s birth?
Answer: Puskarini
Q. What does “Nirvana” signify in Buddhism?
Answer: Liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth
Q. What is the significance of offering flowers during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Represents impermanence and the beauty of life
Q. In Mahayana Buddhism, what is “Metta”?
Answer: Loving-kindness and goodwill
Q. What does the “Eightfold Path” guide practitioners toward in Buddhism?
Answer: Achieving enlightenment
Q. Which festival marks the beginning of the Buddhist New Year in some regions?
Answer: Songkran (Thai New Year)
Q. What is the name of the traditional dessert served during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Rice cakes
Q. What is the primary focus of meditation in Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: Mindfulness and compassion
Q. What is the name of the spiritual pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, India, where Buddha attained enlightenment?
Answer: Bodhi Yatra
Q. Which Bodhisattva is associated with wisdom and knowledge in Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: Manjushri
Q. What does the “Middle Way” signify in Buddhism?
Answer: The balanced path to enlightenment between extremes
Q. What is the primary sacred text in Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: Mahayana Sutras
Q. In Mahayana Buddhism, what is the ultimate goal for practitioners?
Answer: Buddhahood
Q. What is the role of Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: They vow to help all sentient beings attain enlightenment.
Q. Which ancient kingdom was Buddha born in?
Answer: Lumbini, part of the Shakya kingdom
Q. What is the significance of circumambulating stupas during Mahayana New Year?
Answer: Symbolizes devotion and reverence to Buddha
Q. What is the main teaching of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?
Answer: The nature of suffering and the path to its cessation
Q. What is the central concept in Buddhism related to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth?
Answer: Samsara
FAQs on Mahayana New Year
What makes Mahayana unique?
Its teachings that emphasize ideas such as that the true nature of all things is emptiness and that every single thing is dependent on everything else.
What are the traditions of Mahayana?
The traditions of Mahayana are: meditation, chants, and devotional offerings.
Where did Mahayana come from?
Originating in India, Mahayana Buddhism spread across Asia, becoming the prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia.
What is the main goal of Mahayana?
The main goal of Mahayana is to spread happiness and compassion to everyone in the world.
