Buddhist Religious Days

Buddhist religious days that are celebrated in Thailand together with Buddhists around the world.

1. Visakha Bucha Day

This day commemorates three defining events in the life of the Lord Buddha which all occurred on the full-moon day of the sixth lunar month (known as the Visakha month). The Visakha full moon marks the day on which Buddha was born, reached his enlightenment 35 years later and the day he died and entered Nirvana 45 years after that. (Thaizer.com)

2. Asalha Puja

Is a Theravada Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the month of Āsādha. It is celebrated in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar and in countries with Theravada Buddhist populations. Asalha Puja, also known as Dhamma Day, is one of Theravada Buddhism’s most important festivals, celebrating as it does the Buddha’s first sermon in which he set out to his five former associates the doctrine that had come to him following his enlightenment. This first pivotal sermon, often referred to as “setting into motion the wheel of dhamma,” is the teaching which is encapsulated for Buddhists in the four noble truths: there is suffering (dukkha); suffering is caused by craving (tanha); there is a state (nibbana) beyond suffering and craving; and finally, the way to nirvana is via the eightfold path. All the various schools and traditions of Buddhism revolve around the central doctrine of the four noble truths.

This first sermon is not only the first structured discourse given by the Buddha after his enlightenment, it also contains the essence of all his subsequent teaching. At the end of the talk, one of the five participants recounted his understanding of what had been said and asked to be received as a disciple, a request the Buddha granted, thus establishing the first order of monks.

The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons. The following day is known in Thailand as Thai: วันเข้าพรรษา Wan Khao Phansa; it is the first day of Thai: พรรษา vassa, the Theravada rains retreat. (Wikipedia)

3. Makha Bucha Day

The term ‘makha’ in turn comes from the word ‘Magha’ in Pali, the sacred language of the religious texts of the Theravada strand of Buddhism most widely practised in Thailand. Meanwhile, ‘bucha’ is a Thai word – once again deriving from the Pali language, this time from the word Puja – which means ‘to venerate’ or ‘to honour’.

Therefore, the term Makha Bucha is taken to refer to a day intended for honouring the third lunar month and, in particular, the Buddha and the teachings that he delivered on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month. Note that in a leap year, Makha Bucha Day may instead be held on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month.

As well as Thailand, Makha Bucha Day is celebrated in other countries including Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. It first came to be celebrated in modern-day Thailand during the reign of King Rama IV, first observed only in the ground of the royal palace and later becoming more widely recognised nationally and finally introduced as a Thai public holiday.

But the origins of Makha Bucha Day itself lay much further back, 45 years before the beginning of the Buddhist era and nine months after the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. Then, on the full moon day of the third lunar month (now known as Makha Bucha Day), Buddhist beliefs hold that a meeting between the Buddha and his disciplines became a momentous and historic occasion.

Including the fact that it already fell on the auspicious occasion of a full moon, the meeting is said to have taken on four remarkable characteristics that are still recounted in Buddhist teaching today. These four elements to the gathering have also given Makha Bucha Day its nickname of the Fourfold Assembly Day.

4. The Fourfold Assembly Day

A total of 1,250 Buddhist Sangha followers unexpectedly visited the bamboo grove known as Veluvana in Kajangala, northern India, where the Buddha was known to have stayed. Each of the 1,250 was an Arahant, enlightened disciplines who had been ordained by the Buddha himself and who were said to have gained insight into the true nature of existence and have achieved nirvana.

To his unsummoned audience, the Buddha is believed to have given an important teaching serving as a summary of the core principles of Buddhism. The teaching is known as the Ovadhapatimokha, and is focussed on the idea of refraining from evil, doing what is good, and cleansing the mind.

Buddhists believe that the Buddha continued to teach the Ovadhapatimokha for two decades, and that it was then taken up by the Buddhist Sangha by way of the 227 rules that make up the monastic discipline code observed by fully ordained monks. As such, Makha Bucha Day is also seen as an opportunity to celebrate the formation of these ideals that continue to guide modern Theravada Buddhism in Thailand and elsewhere. (expique.com)

5. Khao Phansa Day

Wan Khao Phansa is a period of three lunar months during the rainy season when monks are required to remain in one particular place or temple.  This tradition originates from old times when Buddha stayed in temples during the rainy season to avoid killing insects or harming the growing seeds. It is a period for study, meditation and teaching of new monks. The monks are allowed to go out during the day but they must sleep in the same temple every night during these three months.

Mostly the activities o­n Wan Khao Phansa (Rains-Retreat Entry Day) are same as those o­n any other Buddhist holy days. Two main important things presented to monks during Khao Pansa are the candles and garments worn by monks, specifically the bathing robe.

In the old times there was only candle light to be used around the temple, and on the entry of the rainy season, Thai people made large candles as offerings to be used during this season. Some believe that as a result of this custom, they become brighter, and smarter – similar to the characteristics of the candlelight. This tradition passed on from generation to generation and it is still present today.

One important tradition for Wan Khao Pansa is “Khao Phansa Candles Making Ceremony” where people bring white and yellow candles to make the Khao Phansa candles.

Also “Candle Festival” is the major event occurs on this day. The most famous of Candle Festival locates at Ubon Ratchathanee province, at Thung Sri Mueng temple which is the province’s most popular annual event. Local artists express their artistic talents and techniques through crafting and placing Thai pattern with the candle. The magnificent candles also demonstrate the link of local custom and religious belief. After the procession, they are presented to local temples. (learnthaiwithmod.com)

6. Wan Ork Phansa

Marks the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent period and the traditional end of the rainy season. The final day of the Buddhist Lent period falls on the full-moon day of the eleventh lunar moon and is known in most parts of Thailand as Ork Phansa, although there are some regional variations. According to Buddhist belief, the day commemorates when Buddha descended back to earth after spending three months in heaven where he had visited his mother. His return was greeted by his followers with gifts of food and today Thai Buddhists mark the event by visiting the wat and making merit. Different regions have their own way of marking the occasion, but it’s common at this time of year to see organised long-boat races.

7. Rains Retreat

Buddhist Lent is often referred to as the Rains Retreat and is the three month period during the rainy season where most Buddhist monks remain at a single monastery rather than travel around. The Rains Retreat begins on Khao Phansa Day (usually in July) and finishes 3 months later on Awk Phansa Day. The Rains Retreat is a popular time for young Thai men to be ordained as a Buddhist monk. Most Thai men will become a monk at some stage of their life, even if it’s just for a short period of a few weeks or a few months.

8. Robes Offering (Thod Kathin)

For a one-month period from the end of the Rains Retreat, new robes and offerings are made to the monkhood as part of a ceremony known as ‘thod kathin.’ Throughout Thailand various thod kathin events and festivities are arranged whilst in Bangkok there is a royal ceremony usually held at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). (thaizer.com)

Photo by Giuliano Di Paolo on Unsplash