May in California is punctuated by Vesak celebrations. Temples usually divide up weekends to hold events. The Sri Lankan community has seven temples in the Los Angeles area and celebrates the event on different dates. (The final Sinhalese event in the area will be held on May 22, at Maithri Vihara in Sun Valley).
Today, the actual full moon observance day, was observed in a massive event at Dhammakaya Int'l Meditation Center (dimc.net) in Azusa. Two-hundred Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana monks from 11 different countries (Japan, China, Korea, Tibet, Burma, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and the USA) were in attendance along with -- by our estimate -- 1,000 white-clad Buddhists.
There were short welcoming speeches, chanting in various languages, guided meditation, and respectfully circumambulating holding candles in honor of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as it sprinkled and thoughts of gratitude went out for the Dharma wishing the world peace.
