Wat Buddha Bucha

Thai Buddhist Calendar & Thailand Events

Visakha Puja - falls on middle of May. It is one of the most important days for Buddhists because this is the day Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died. All three of these significant events fell on the same day. Visakha Puja is celebrated with a public sermon during the day and a candles are lit procession to pay respect to the Lord Buddha during the night.

Magha Puja - falls on February. On this day 1,250 enlightened monks converged to pay respect to the Lord Buddha without any prior appointment. The day is celebrated in a similar fashion to Visakha Puja day.

Asalha Puja - falls on July. It was on this day that the Lord Buddha preached his sermon to followers after attaining enlightenment. The day is usually celebrated by merit making, listening to a monk’s sermon, and joining a candle lit procession during the night.

Khao Phansa - falls on July. On this day it is known as Buddhist three-month ‘lent’ period. At this time, all monks and novices remain in the temples. They should not venture out or spend the night in any other place except in case of extreme emergency. If there is an emergency, they must not exceed seven consecutive nights. This is a time for serious contemplation and meditation for both monks and laymen alike. Traditionally, it is also important for laymen to ordain their sons into the monkhood on this day to get maximum benefit from the Buddhist teachings.

Ok Phansa - marks the end of the Buddhist lent and falls on October. This is a day of joyful celebration and merit-making. For many families, it is also the day they welcome a son back into the home and celebrate his successful completion of a term in the temple.

Tod Kratin - lasts for 30 days, from Ok Phansa through to the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. During this time most Buddhists take part in ceremonies, either directly or indirectly. Robes and other necessities of temple life are offered ceremoniously to the monks on an appointed day. Each temple may hold a Tod Kratin ceremony once each year. Originally, in the time of the Lord Buddha, this ceremony was meant to teach monks humility and show them how to cut, sew, and dye the robes for themselves. The finished robes were then offered to the members of the company deemed most suitable. Today, however, the ritual has evolved dramatically into a grand celebration where people join in the merit making. It is also an important occasion for the temple to raise funds.

Sart Ceremony
Sart is derived from an Indian word meaning autumn or the fall season. It falls on the end of the tenth lunar month. In India this is the time for the harvesting of grains and fruit and time to rejoice. Originally, this was a Brahministic festival but now it is celebrated in Thailand temple. The main activity involves the making of merit to monks. However, the tenth lunar month is not harvesting time in Thailand. So farmers usually plant a special type of glutinous rice which can be reaped at this time to make "flat rice" of "khow mow", a main ingredient in the preparation of "Krayasart", a type of dessert very similar to granola bar with peanuts. There are also other types of sweet made from rice. All these special delicacies for the festival are to be offered first to monks for merit-making and then enjoyed by the people.

Loi Krathong
It originated over 700 years ago in the period of Sukhothai Kingdom. At that period, a lady named Nang Noppamas made floats of lotus with banana leaves for the king to float down the river. Loi" means to float and Krathong is a lotus - a leaf cup normally made of banana leaf. Every year from that period on the night of full moon in the twelfth lunar month of the year, people celebrated the holiday by floating lotus-shaped banana leafs boat on the water.

By moonlight, people carry their Krathongs to the banks of waterways, light the candles and joss sticks, make a wish, then pushes gently out onto the water. The Krathongs can be launch in canals, rivers or small ponds. A common belief is said to bring good luck, carry away sins, and wishes that have been made for the New Year. Some Thais float lanterns in the water in worship of Lord Buddha's footprints left on the bank of the Nammatha River. People in rural believe that Loi Krathong is the way to respect Mae Khong Kha (the River Spirits) because during passing days they use the water for drinking, washing and making a living.

The above 3 religious events applied the following: Early in the morning, people begin to arrive at the temple. They carry prepared food. After the meal, people are blessed by the monks and many return to their homes. The more devoted may choose to remain at the temple and, later in the morning, take a vow with the monks to keep either five or eight precepts throughout the entire day. After taking this vow, they split their time between praying, listening to the monks’ preachings and doing meditation. In the evening, the monks lead a candle light procession, making three complete circuits of the main temple building. This event signifies the end of the celebrations.



	Thai Buddhist Calendar & Thailand Events Visakha Puja - falls on middle of May. It is one of the most important days for Buddhists because this is the day Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died. All three of these significant events fell on the same day. Visakha Puja is celebrated with a public sermon during the day and a candles are lit procession to pay respect to the Lord Buddha during the night. Magha Puja - falls on February. On this day 1,250 enlightened monks converged to pay respect to the Lord Buddha without any prior appointment. The day is celebrated in a similar fashion to Visakha Puja day. Asalha Puja - falls on July. It was on this day that the Lord Buddha preached his sermon to followers after attaining enlightenment. The day is usually celebrated by merit making, listening to a monk’s sermon, and joining a candle lit procession during the night. Khao Phansa - falls on July. On this day it is known as Buddhist three-month ‘lent’ period. At this time, all monks and novices remain in the temples. They should not venture out or spend the night in any other place except in case of extreme emergency. If there is an emergency, they must not exceed seven consecutive nights. This is a time for serious contemplation and meditation for both monks and laymen alike. Traditionally, it is also important for laymen to ordain their sons into the monkhood on this day to get maximum benefit from the Buddhist teachings. Ok Phansa - marks the end of the Buddhist lent and falls on October. This is a day of joyful celebration and merit-making. For many families, it is also the day they welcome a son back into the home and celebrate his successful completion of a term in the temple. Tod Kratin - lasts for 30 days, from Ok Phansa through to the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. During this time most Buddhists take part in ceremonies, either directly or indirectly. Robes and other necessities of temple life are offered ceremoniously to the monks on an appointed day. Each temple may hold a Tod Kratin ceremony once each year. Originally, in the time of the Lord Buddha, this ceremony was meant to teach monks humility and show them how to cut, sew, and dye the robes for themselves. The finished robes were then offered to the members of the company deemed most suitable. Today, however, the ritual has evolved dramatically into a grand celebration where people join in the merit making. It is also an important occasion for the temple to raise funds. Sart Ceremony Sart is derived from an Indian word meaning autumn or the fall season. It falls on the end of the tenth lunar month. In India this is the time for the harvesting of grains and fruit and time to rejoice. Originally, this was a Brahministic festival but now it is celebrated in Thailand temple. The main activity involves the making of merit to monks. However, the tenth lunar month is not harvesting time in Thailand. So farmers usually plant a special type of glutinous rice which can be reaped at this time to make "flat rice" of "khow mow", a main ingredient in the preparation of "Krayasart", a type of dessert very similar to granola bar with peanuts. There are also other types of sweet made from rice. All these special delicacies for the festival are to be offered first to monks for merit-making and then enjoyed by the people. Loi Krathong It originated over 700 years ago in the period of Sukhothai Kingdom. At that period, a lady named Nang Noppamas made floats of lotus with banana leaves for the king to float down the river. Loi" means to float and Krathong is a lotus - a leaf cup normally made of banana leaf. Every year from that period on the night of full moon in the twelfth lunar month of the year, people celebrated the holiday by floating lotus-shaped banana leafs boat on the water. By moonlight, people carry their Krathongs to the banks of waterways, light the candles and joss sticks, make a wish, then pushes gently out onto the water. The Krathongs can be launch in canals, rivers or small ponds. A common belief is said to bring good luck, carry away sins, and wishes that have been made for the New Year. Some Thais float lanterns in the water in worship of Lord Buddha's footprints left on the bank of the Nammatha River. People in rural believe that Loi Krathong is the way to respect Mae Khong Kha (the River Spirits) because during passing days they use the water for drinking, washing and making a living. The above 3 religious events applied the following: Early in the morning, people begin to arrive at the temple. They carry prepared food. After the meal, people are blessed by the monks and many return to their homes. The more devoted may choose to remain at the temple and, later in the morning, take a vow with the monks to keep either five or eight precepts throughout the entire day. After taking this vow, they split their time between praying, listening to the monks’ preachings and doing meditation. In the evening, the monks lead a candle light procession, making three complete circuits of the main temple building. This event signifies the end of the celebrations.
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