Despite rain squalls, Buddhists mark Makha Bucha Day

BANGKOK: -- Many Buddhists in the capital and other provinces braved unseasonal sporadic rainstorms to give alms to monks to mark Makha Bucha Day on Monday, a national holiday which marks the first sermon of the Lord Buddha following his Enlightenment.

Macha Bucha is a Buddhist holy day and marks a point in history when 1,250 of the Lord Buddha's followers gathered as if they had been notified by a simultaneous awareness, from widely separated areas to hear his sermon and without previous arrangement.

Macha Bucha Day is a day when worshippers circumambulate temples in a bid to make merit. In Bangkok processions start at around 8pm. Each worshipper is asked to walk three complete circles around the central temple area.

On the eve of Makha Bucha Day, tens of thousands of monks and Buddhists marched to the Buddhamondhol religious centre in the central province of Nakhon Pathom in dedication to their beloved His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra presided over the ceremony in which he encouraged young Thais to embrace dharma teachings.

Makha Bucha is very much a part of living Buddhism. Older Thai men and women tend to give more significance to Makha Bucha Day than to contemporary consumer society.

The first Macha Bucha, nine months after the Buddha's Enlightenment, was on the full moon day of the 3rd lunar month, Makha, when 1,250 Sangha followers, came to see the Buddha without prior schedule or intention. All were "Arhantas', Enlightened Ones or saints ordained by the Buddha himself.

--TNA 2006-02-13

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra presided over the ceremony in which he encouraged young Thais to embrace dharma teachings.

Just like him? Amassing vast wealth is hardly the way to embrace the Dharma.