Thai Buddhists provide monks with alms to make personal merit. This activity takes place soon after dawn. In Bangkok, several bigger temples hosted large merit-making ceremonies yesterday morning. At Wat Saket throngs of Thai people as well as tourists crowded in to listen to 99 monks give homilies.
Bangkok’s municipal authorities also staged a mass merit-making extravaganza at Sanam Luang Park with 89 monks presiding over the ceremony. At this rite, Thais paid homage to the country’s revered king and queen.
Wian Thian is an ancient rite that requires Buddhists to walk around the temple’s main chapel three times while holding candles. The majority of temples in the country stage this rite. Slightly north of Bangkok, in Pathum Thani, Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple was the venue for an amazing candlelight ceremony.
A total of 1,250 saffron-robed monks oversaw this ceremony and a spokesperson for the temple’s abbot said more than 100,000 laypeople attended. The number of 1,250 is significant in that it was the number of followers who attended a mass ordination by the Lord Buddha more than 2,500 years ago.
Thailand marks major Buddhist ceremony
News in Asia
Buddhists throughout Thailand celebrated one of the most important religious holidays on their annual calendar yesterday. Temples in every town and village were the focus of activities for Makha Bucha Day. These primarily focus on giving alms to monks and a rite that involves walking around the main chapel after nightfall.