Jayanti of the Buddha avatar of Vishnu in traditional panchangs; also Ashoka Vijayadashami

Buddha Jayanti in the October panchang marks the jayanti of the Buddha avatar of Lord Vishnu as reckoned in several traditional Hindu almanacs, which assign it to Ashwin Shukla Dashami, the day of Vijayadashami. It is distinct from Buddha Purnima in Vaishakha, when Buddhists across the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. In the Dashavatara tradition — sung by Jayadeva in the Gita Govinda — the Buddha is honoured as the ninth avatar, who out of compassion condemned cruelty and the killing of animals in sacrifice. The same day holds deep meaning for Buddhists in India: it is celebrated as Ashoka Vijayadashami, remembering the emperor Ashoka's turn to the Dhamma after the Kalinga war, and as Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, for on Vijayadashami of 1956 (14 October) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with hundreds of thousands of followers at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur. Devotees remember the Buddha's teachings of compassion, non-violence and the middle path, and many visit Deekshabhoomi and Buddhist viharas on this day.

Many keep a vegetarian diet in the spirit of non-violence.