Devout Buddhists Celebrate Auspicious Day Nationwide

[webfact]

Devout Buddhists celebrate auspicious day nationwide

By The Nation

Buddhists nationwide joyously made merit to mark Asana Bucha Day yesterday.

In Bangkok, Religious Affairs Department chief Sod DaengIed led members of the public to offer alms to 85 monks in the morning and attend a procession of Buddhist devotees with lighted candles walking clockwise around the golden pagoda at Wat Saket in the evening.

On this auspicious day, Sod also invited the attendees to worship the 2,000yearold Buddhist scripture there and urged them to do good deeds for His Majesty the King's merit and the country's peace.

The temple, famous for its Golden Mount Pagoda, also hosted a dharma quiz, a dharma play by students and dharma book sales.

In the evening, Privy Councillor Ampol Senanarong presided over a candlelighting procession at the Buddhamondhol in Nakhon Pathom.

At Ayutthaya's Phak Hai district, people made merit and watched a beautiful 100boat procession offering wax candles for the Buddhist Lent today to Wat Ladchado. The event, presided over by provincial Governor Wittaya Phewphong, also helped promote local traditions and canal conservation.

In Muang district of the Northeastern province of Surin, a large number of devout Buddhists and tourists attended a grand ceremony of 32 pairs of monks collecting alms on elephantback to mark Asana Bucha Day at the Phraya Surin Pakdee Srinarong Jang Wang Memorial. This year the Surin administration organisation set up four stands around the monument from which people could offer items to monks on the backs of elephants.

In Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, provincial Governor Raphi Phongbupphakij yesterday morning led members of the public to offer fluorescent tubes, instead of less convenient wax candles, to 84 monks to mark the religious day as well as making merit for His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, which will take place on December 5. The province is also hosting a threeday grand waxcandle procession until tomorrow at the Thao Suranari monument.

In Phichit's Muang district, parents brought their children to listen to a dharma sermon at Wat Tha Luang to instil in them a love of making merit in the Buddhist tradition. Senior monk Luangpor Thassimuneewong also distributed medicines to help people rid themselves of the vices of smoking and drinking from this Buddhist Lent period onwards.

In Chiang Mai's Chom Thong district, about 3,000 people visited the highaltitude Inthanon National Park to worship the Great Holy Relics Pagoda of NobhamethanidolNabhapolbhumisiri after making merit at Wat Phrathat Srichomthong.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Chiang Rai province saw a large number of Thai and Burmese people make merit together in Mae Sai district.

Phra Phayom Galayano, the prominent abbot of Nonthaburi's Wat Suankaew, urged people not to go to temple during festivals only out of a fad or for fun, but to make merit and practise dharma and behave appropriately.

-- The Nation 2011-07-16

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[Lite Beer]

Buddhists countrywide make merit on Buddhist Lent Day

PHITSANULOK, July 16 – Thai Buddhists throughout the country on Saturday morning have flocked to temples to make merit on Buddhist Lent Day, wishing for national peace and personal luck.

In Phitsanulok, Governor Preecha Ruangchan and residents donned white clothing and gathered at Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat Temple, the main and most important temple of the province, to offer food and necessities to monks on the religious occasion of Buddhist Lent Day.

In Chiang Rai, Thai and Myanmar Buddhists thronged to worship relics of the Lord Buddha contained in the holy Phra That Doi Tung at Phra That Doi Tung temple. They also offered monks necessities, including candles and robes. They hoped that such offerings on Buddhist Lent Day would help carry on the religious tradition, as well as bring their families and themselves good luck.

The northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani annually holds the biggest and the most spectacular Buddhist Lent Candle Festival in Thailand.

In the Thai capital, Bangkok residents also went to nearby temples to give fresh and dried foods to monks during the morning alms rounds.

The Buddhist Lent is a period devoted to study and meditation. Buddhist monks remain within the temple grounds and will not venture out for a period of three months starting from the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month, coinciding on July 16 this year, to the fifteenth day of the eleventh lunar month.

In ancient times, this tradition was intended so monks could avoid crossing rice paddies when they went out to receive offerings from villagers. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-16

[kimamey]

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Great pictures. Thanks