Hana Matsuri, or “Flower Festival,” is a Japanese Buddhist celebration held annually on April 8 to commemorate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Temples are decorated with flowers, symbolizing the garden in which Buddha was born.

A key tradition is the kanbutsu-e ceremony, where people pour sweet tea (amacha) over small Buddha statues, reenacting the legend that celestial dragons bathed the newborn Buddha in fragrant rain. The festival includes parades, cultural performances, and prayers, promoting peace, gratitude, and Buddhist teachings.