Abhidhamma Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the 7th Burmese Lunar month. This month generally begins in October. It is celebrated to mark Buddha`s return to this earth after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka. In Buddhism the Abhidhamma Pitaka is an important scripture. As a result this day is celebrated with lot of fervor. Abhidhamma Day is celebrated by offering lights in front of the image of Gautama Buddha. People also perform good deeds to mark the day. Though the day is filled with merriment but it has a lot of spiritual significance attached to it. According to Buddha the best way of attaining happiness was through community services. Till date this tradition continues.

According to legends on Buddha`s seventh Lent after enlightenment, he was filled with compassion for his mother, the devas and the brahmas. So he went to Tavatimsa Devaloka or the celestial abode to preach the Abhidhamma Pitaka. The preaching took three months to complete. Buddha seeked permission from the King of the celestial abode to leave. On hearing this, the king created three stairways of silver, gold and ruby. The staircase began from Mount Meru to the gate of the Sankisa (human abode).

As Buddha descended from the celestial abode he also made it possible fro the human beings to see the celestial beings.