Buddhist monks and nuns generally get involved only marginally in the major rites (birth, marriage, and death), except for death. A monk would attend celebrations of birth and weddings or the bride and groom might visit the monastery and present gifts to the monk; in turn, the monk might offer a sermon. Marriage rituals are sometimes performed in the West today, but this is a new development.

Death in the Buddhist community, and in the Tibetan Buddhist community in particular, has been described as the science of dying — the rituals and beliefs around death are important and complex. A full account of these rituals and beliefs is available in the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

Pilgrimages form an important part of Buddhist ritual. Hundreds of sites draw pilgrims, who often come a very long way to reach a specific destination. While some of the sites might seem esoteric, many are shared by other religions such as Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Some locations are obvious, for instance, the Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini Grove; Bodh Gaya, where he found enlightenment; Sarnath, where he preached his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths; and Kusinara, where he died.

The places, dates, and nature of Buddhist festivals are many and various. The important times in the life of the Buddha are obvious events to be celebrated. It's sufficient to say that a Buddhist festival is a colorful event with temple fairs and visits, alms giving and offerings at shrines, puppet shows, and theatrical and musical events.