Stay at home for Visakha Bucha
Stay at home for Visakha Bucha
PHUKET: The Ministry of Culture is asking people to make merit by staying at home for the Buddhist religious holiday Visakha Bucha today (May 26).
Image: Ministry of Culture
Visakha Bucha is a national public holiday during which Buddhists throughout the country traditionally gather at temples to join ceremonies, including the candle-lit processions.
Instead of people joining large gatherings at temples, the Ministry of Culture is advising Buddhists this year to stay home and join ceremonies and festivities to be held online.
“Wherever you are, you can make merit,” the ministry noted in a post online yesterday, ahead of today’s main ceremonies.
Songkran without the splash Songkran without the splash
As the nation gears up to celebrate a muted New Year, state authorities share their views on consumer spend over the holiday period
published : 6 Apr 2021 at 06:11
3 The atmosphere on Khao San road in Bangkok this year ahead of Songkran. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
Next Tuesday promises to be a different Songkran Festival with laughs and smiles from visiting family and friends rather than water splashing, tourists, and shopping during the scorching heat.
Many people have no plans to spend extra during the holidays, with some even considering cutting their holiday budget. While a number will keep up the Songkran spirit and travel domestically, 26.5% out of 1,000 people interviewed by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said they planned to stay home.
Culture
One of the holist days to Buddhists, Makha Bucha Day marks the full moon day of the third lunar month. This year, that date was February 26.
Image: Guillaume Payen/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
When the Buddha was alive thousands of years ago, 1,250 of his followers came to see him in India without a scheduled meeting; they all came on what is now known as Makha Bucha Day. These followers were said to be enlightened ones, and Buddha ordained them himself. He then taught three core principles of Buddhism: Don t do evil; do good; and cleanse your mind.
Image: Guillaume Payen/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
200,000 Buddhists Gathered on a Giant Screen Via Zoom to Celebrate One of Their Holiest Holidays
Share
Filed to:buddhism
buddhism in thailanddhammakaya traditionmagha pujapublic holidays in sri lankapublic holidays in thailandreligionreligion beliefvideotelephonywat phra dhammakayazoom
Thai monks walk past a 280-metre-long screen (280.42 m) where virtual devotees take part in an online Makha Bucha Day ceremony on February 26, 2021 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: Lauren DeCicca, Getty Images)
To sign up for our daily newsletter covering the latest news, features and reviews, head HERE. For a running feed of all our stories, follow us on Twitter HERE. Or you can bookmark the Gizmodo Australia homepage to visit whenever you need a news fix.