Makha Bucha Day Sends Prayers for All

Makha Bucha Day, which was this past Wednesday, is one of the most important dates in the Buddhist calendar.

Celebrated on the full moon night of the third lunar month, it is a day of veneration, marking the day nine months after Buddha's enlightenment, when 1,250 of his ordained followers spontaneously gathered to hear Him give a sermon, and at which he established the basic tenants of the monastic order - the Sangha.

On Wednesday night, thousands of Buddhist gathered at the temples all around the city for traditional Buddhist ceremonies to pay respect to the Lord Buddha, the Teachings and the Sangha or the monks, who strictly adhere to the path of Lord Buddha. The congregants followed the monks 3 times around the center hall of the temple, moving clockwise and saying prayers, and this activity, called Wien Tien, was the key observance for the evening.

This year, more tourists from many countries participated in this ceremony than ever, and in addition to praying for spiritual blessings, the people also prayed for HM the King and Queen to stay healthy, as the king is now in poor health.

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