![Ahn Young-Joon Buddhists walk past lanterns during the Lotus Lantern Festival, ahead of the birthday of Buddha in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/5ba040a36b4241e6b786c0fc014cef30/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhists walk past lanterns during the Lotus Lantern Festival, ahead of the birthday of Buddha in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
![Eranga Jayawardena Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees pray at a temple on the day of Buddha Poornima, or Vesak in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, May 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/257a91446aa648caaca301cd7997d502/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Sri Lankan Buddhist devotees pray at a temple on the day of Buddha Poornima, or Vesak in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, May 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
![Ahn Young-Joon Buddhists carry lanterns and walk in a parade during the Lotus Lantern Festival, ahead of the birthday of Buddha in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 11, 2024.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/36336f1a87674eaa83b5224d27c260ef/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhists carry lanterns and walk in a parade during the Lotus Lantern Festival, ahead of the birthday of Buddha in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 11, 2024.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
![Ashwini Bhatia Exile Tibetan Buddhist monks distribute bottled water and juice to devotees as they mark the day of Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/06f88c5770064b049f282d6c85423f01/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Exile Tibetan Buddhist monks distribute bottled water and juice to devotees as they mark the day of Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
![Niranjan Shrestha Buddhist devotees carry butter lamps during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/2ee2700f2b2842078b353f737468c518/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhist devotees carry butter lamps during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
![Lee Jin-Man A Buddhist monk pours water on a statue of Buddha during a service to celebrate Buddha's birthday at the Jogye temple in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/dc26dd4f7c864601a84f74d83b299cfe/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A Buddhist monk pours water on a statue of Buddha during a service to celebrate Buddha's birthday at the Jogye temple in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
![Vincent Thian Devotees wishing to rejuvenate their spirits and minds walk under a giant canvas of sacred "Thangka" measuring 60 meters (197 feet) by 12 meters (39 feet), unfurled in the sun during Wesak day celebrations in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. W(AP Photo/Vincent Thian)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/8c0d028429c843d8b80cde3ee88ca6fc/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Devotees wishing to rejuvenate their spirits and minds walk under a giant canvas of sacred "Thangka" measuring 60 meters (197 feet) by 12 meters (39 feet), unfurled in the sun during Wesak day celebrations in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. W(AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
![Heng Sinith Novice Buddhist monks walk to receive alms from devotees during Buddhist Visak Bochea at Praseth Leu pagoda in northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/dc576285cacf43c8945ce44f078d3f75/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Novice Buddhist monks walk to receive alms from devotees during Buddhist Visak Bochea at Praseth Leu pagoda in northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
![Bikas Das A Buddhist devotee waits in queue with a lotus flower to offer to a Buddha statue during Buddha Purnima festival inside a temple in Kolkata, India, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/f961f6b0c5ad40a79aad43fa31629aa6/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A Buddhist devotee waits in queue with a lotus flower to offer to a Buddha statue during Buddha Purnima festival inside a temple in Kolkata, India, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
![Vincent Thian Monks wearing costumes perform prayers before the Thangka, or traditional painting of Lord Buddha, is unveiled at a Tibetan temple during Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/5abf67260d98473286c8c43f78d91bee/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Monks wearing costumes perform prayers before the Thangka, or traditional painting of Lord Buddha, is unveiled at a Tibetan temple during Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
![Niranjan Shrestha A Buddhist devotee kneels to offer prayers during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/799a91715eda4afabae2d875502a64d9/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A Buddhist devotee kneels to offer prayers during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
![Thein Zaw Buddhist devotees gather to pour water at the foot of a banyan tree during the Full Moon day of "Kasone," known as Buddha's Birthday, at Botataung pagoda Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/3cafa911906a40a88112b9b164685e3e/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhist devotees gather to pour water at the foot of a banyan tree during the Full Moon day of "Kasone," known as Buddha's Birthday, at Botataung pagoda Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
![Ashwini Bhatia Exile Tibetans pray as they mark the day of Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/7666b4d1e99a4602a63605add79c44e1/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Exile Tibetans pray as they mark the day of Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
![Heng Sinith A Buddhist monk receives alms from devotees during the Buddhist Visak Bochea at Praseth Leu pagoda in northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/d49affc070c549e8af26e9b2cec86758/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A Buddhist monk receives alms from devotees during the Buddhist Visak Bochea at Praseth Leu pagoda in northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
![Slamet Riyadi People release lanterns during the celebration of Vesak, which marks the day of Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment at the 9th century Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/164c7823fca649cea64850eb01d39e34/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
People release lanterns during the celebration of Vesak, which marks the day of Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment at the 9th century Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi)
![Ahn Young-Joon Buddhists wait for the start of a lantern parade as part of festivities celebrating the birthday of Buddha, in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/64156b40195046f384a9a5eda89282fa/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhists wait for the start of a lantern parade as part of festivities celebrating the birthday of Buddha, in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
![Bikas Das Buddhist devotees participate in a peace rally on the eve of Buddha Purnima, the day marked as Buddha's birthday, in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/1637436c705046e38ba6f65da13e3f0e/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhist devotees participate in a peace rally on the eve of Buddha Purnima, the day marked as Buddha's birthday, in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
![Vincent Thian A devotee carries a statue of Buddha inside a temple during Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/9f9e48b1256240e29b69cb8f8a5b2f06/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A devotee carries a statue of Buddha inside a temple during Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
![Niranjan Shrestha Buddhist devotees stand in a queue to light butter lamps during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/1ff32cda949c4aa082c52df0e1afe7e9/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Buddhist devotees stand in a queue to light butter lamps during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
![Niranjan Shrestha A young Buddhist devotee lights a butter lamp during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/9b18d817945546fe8e3b5692c322f117/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A young Buddhist devotee lights a butter lamp during Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima festival at the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
![Vincent Thian Devotees unveil a giant canvas of sacred "Thangka" measuring 60 meters (197 feet) by 12 meters (39 feet), under the sun during a Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/78a584f35f46408ab5b646160bcadfd1/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Devotees unveil a giant canvas of sacred "Thangka" measuring 60 meters (197 feet) by 12 meters (39 feet), under the sun during a Wesak day celebration in Ipoh, Malaysia, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)