Ullambana – August 18, 2024

History of Ullambana

Ullambana, surprisingly, has multiple stories about its origin. Based on the region where it is celebrated, people have passed on varying stories about the day. The word ‘Ullambana’ itself is probably derived from the Indian Language of Sanskrit and was translated into Chinese to form ‘Ullambana.’ In India, you would probably hear people say “Yulanpen Sutra,” which is in more than one way similar to the Chinese Ullambana.

The story behind the day is interesting. The story is of a boy, Sariputta, who rescues his mother who is trapped in a life-cycle continuum. Legend has it that Petavatthu, Sariputta’s mother, is trapped in the fifth life cycle as a ghost, unable to come back as a human. To help his mother, Sariputta builds huts and fills them with food for the needy to eat from as a gesture of his sacrifice. The gods accept his sacrifice and his mother is freed.

Although this is a Hindu version of the story, there are similar versions in Chinese and Japanese literature with slight variations in names and places where the story originates from — but more or less the story itself is pretty much the same. The traditional way of celebrating Ullambana carries the same spirit of helping the poor by offering them food and decorating the streets and homes with lights and lanterns to guide the lost spirits home.

Some people think of this day as an oriental version of the Mexican Day of the Dead and though it may seem that they are alike, “they are not.” The Buddhist faith has a powerful concept of the life cycle continuum and the seven circles of reincarnation. Mexicans are Christians and their faith is entirely different.

If one wishes to experience what this day is about and how to best celebrate it, they should plan a visit to either China or Japan, where this day is still celebrated in some of their cities.