Makha Puja Day

Makha Bucha Day is an important Buddhist festival celebrated in Thailand on the full moon day of the third lunar month. The third lunar month is known in the Thai language as Makha Puja means “to venerate” or “to honor”. As such, Makha Puja Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month.

The spiritual aims of the day are: not to commit any kind of sins; do only good; purify one’s mind

Event Date: Sunday March 4, 2012

Activities

Origin of Makha Puja Day

Makha Puja Day marks the four auspicious occasions, which happened nine months after the Enlightenment of the Buddha at Veḷuvana Bamboo Grove, near Rajagaha in Northern India. On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to the Mahasamayasutta,  four marvellous events occurred:

1. There were 1,250 Arahata, that came to see the buddha that evening without any schedule.
2. All of them were Arhantas, the Enlightened One, and all of them were ordained by the Buddha himself.
3. The Buddha gave those Arhantas principles of the Buddhism, called “The ovadhapatimokha”.  Those principles are 1) To cease from all evil, 2) To do what is good, 3) To cleanse one’s mind
4. It was the full-moon day.

The Buddha gave an important teaching to the assembled monks on that day 2,500 years ago called the ‘Ovadapatimokhawhich laid down the principles of the Buddhist teachings. In Thailand, this teaching has been dubbed the ‘Heart of Buddhism’.

1. Wian Tian
   In the evening of Magha full-moon day, each temple in Thailand holds a candlelight procession called a wian tian (wian meaning circle; tian meaning candle).  Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the monks and congregation members circumambulate clockwise three times around the Uposatha Hall – once for each of the Three Jewels – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
2. Tum Boon
   Making merit by going to temples for special observances and join in the other Buddhist activities.
3. Rub Sil
   Keeping the Five Precepts. Practise of renunciation: Observe the Eight Precepts, practise of meditation and mental discipline, stay in the temple, wearing white robes, for a number of days.

Reference: Wikipedia