Thai Buddhist > Festivals > Wisakha Puja

Wisakha Puja Day is a very important day in the Buddhist tradition, for it was on this day that Prince Siddhattha Gotama was born, 35 years later became the Buddha, and in another 45 years, passed away into total Nibbana (Parinibbana). In each case, these events took place on the full-moon day in the Wisakha month (usually in May). Wisakha Puja Day is a great Buddhist holiday. It falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 6th lunar month, i.e. full moon day.

In Thailand, Wisakha Puja is celebrated throughout the country. On Wisakha Puja Day people put up religious flags outside their houses. They take part in ceremonies at temples and they make merit. They bring flowers, candles, and incense to pay respect to the Triple Gem, i.e. Buddha (the Great Teacher), the Dhamma (the Truth) and the Sangha (the community of followers). In the evening, people take part in candle-lit processions and walk around the main chapel of the temple three times. In the procession, each person carries flowers, three incense sticks and a lighted candle. There is another way of making merit. It is Bhavana or development of the mind. In English Bhavana is usually translated as meditation. Mental development means working from a base of morality (Sila), together with the development of concentration (Samadhi) and mindfulness (Sati). It was this kind of practice that enabled him to become a self-awakened Buddha. It enabled many of his noble disciples to become Arahants as well.

Information from: "Student Weekly". Picture by Reuters