(Similar
if not the same as the Laotian and Cambodian tradition)
Visakha
Puja
- falls on the full moon of the sixth month of the lunar year
(around the middle of May on the international calendar). It
is one of the most important days for Buddhists because on this
day the Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died.
All three of these significant events fell on the same day.
Visakha Puja is usually celebrated with a public sermon during
the day and a candle lit procession to pay respect to the Lord
Buddha during the night.
Magha
Puja
- falls on the full moon of the third lunar month (February).
It was on this day that 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 the full moon of the eighth lunar month (July) and
is also very important. 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 the first day after the full moon of the eighth lunar
month (July) and marks the beginning of the three-month Buddhist
‘Lent’ period. At this time, all monks and novices
must remain in their temples. They should not venture out or
spend the night in any other place except in cases of extreme
emergency and, even then, their time away 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 the full
moon of the eleventh lunar month (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 hundreds and thousands
of people join in the merit making. It is also an important
occasion for the temple to raise funds.
The
sequence of events for each of the above three religious days
goes something like this:
Early
in the morning, people begin to arrive at the temple wearing
their best clothes. They carry food prepared at home, usually
in highly decorative gold or silver bowls, and offer it to the
monks. After this breakfast, the 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 lit
procession, making three complete circuits of the main temple
building. This event signifies the end of the celebrations.
