Friday 15 July 2011

Asarnha Bucha Day

Asarnha Bucha Day

Today is Asarnha Bucha Day (อาสาฬหบูชา aa-saal-ha-boo-chaa), one of the most sacred days in Buddhism and in Thailand it's a government holiday. Alcohol sales are strictly forbidden today and tomorrow, when it's Wan Kao Pansa or Buddhist Lent day, the first day of Thai: พรรษา vassa, the Theravada rains retreat.



The day falls on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eight lunar month.

Asranha Bucha is one of the sacred days in Theravada Buddhism as it marks the coming into existence of the Triple Gems, His Teachings and His Disciples.

It is the anniversary of the day on which Lord Buddha delivered the First Sermon to his first five disciples at the Deer Park in Benares over teo thousand five hundred years ago.

To observe this auspicious day, Buddhists all over the country perform merit-making and observe Silas. Some go to the temples to offer food and offerings to the monks and also and listen to a sermon to purify their minds.

Camille


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