Visakha Bucha Day (วันวิสาขบูชา) or Wan Pra Yai วันพระใหญ่ marks the three important incidents in the life of Lord Buddha (พระพุทธเจ้า) on the same day – the full moon of the sixth lunar month. The three significant separate events are :
1. The Buddha’s Birth (ประสูติ)
2. The Enlightenment of Buddha (ตรัสรู้) – While sitting under the Bodhi tree, he found his answer and attained the enlightenment at the age of 35 years.
3. The Nibbana (ปรินิพพาน)- The Buddha passed away on Tuesday, the Vesak full moon day in the zodiac year of the small snake under the two Sal trees in the Sala Grove of the Mallas in Kusinara, the capital of the Malla state, (nowadays located in Kusinagara of Uttrarapradesa, India) at the age of eighty years (around 2547 years ago).Wisaka Bucha Day falls every year in the month of May. This year it is on Tuesday, May 29.
Wisaka Bucha Day is regognized as most important memorial day in Buddhism for the Lord Buddha. Wisaka Bucha day is also recognized by the UNESCO in 1999 as “World Heritage Day”. Thailand where is the permanent location of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, was chosen to host celebrating event for the day.
Activities to be observed on Visakha Bucha Day
Common activities during Visakha Bucha Day focus on merit making:
“ตักบาตร dtàk bàat” : Offering food to monks and novices in the morning,
“ฟังธรรม fang tam” : Some people visit the temples to listen to Dhamma preaching
“ทำบุญ tam bun” : Making merit by going to temples for special observances, making merit, giving some donations and join in the other Buddhist activities.
“ปล่อยนกปล่อยปลา bpòi nók bpòi bplaa”: Setting birds or fish free to get rid of bad karma.
After sunset, candle-lit processions take place at major temples throughout the country. The devout Buddhists walk three times around the principle chapel clockwise (เดินเวียนเทียน), each clasping three incense sticks, a lighted candle and lotus buds. The air is filled with burning incense and smoke from the candles as the faithful complete this most sacred of Buddhist celebrations.
Famous temples to visit around Thailand
- วัดพระแก้ว Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (officially known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram)
- วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม ( วัดโพธิ์ ) Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), or Wat Phra Chetuphon, is located behind the splendid Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
- วัดสุทัศนเทพวรารามวรมหาวิหาร Wat Suthat Thepwararam or known for the towering red Giant Swing that stands at its entrance
This temple is one of Bangkok’s hidden gems. As it is less popular among tourists, stepping into Wat Suthat is like you are leaving the bustling world behind and now in a peaceful heaven. The main ordination hall sits at the center is where the sacred Phra Sri Sakayamunee Buddha image, relocated from Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai, is enshrined. It is one of the largest ordination halls in Thailand with 72.25-meter-high ceiling, completed with stunning wall paintings. Surrounding the ordination hall is Phra Wiharn Khot terrace where 156 beautiful Buddha statues are displayed. In front of Wat Suthat is the Giant Swing, a Brahman religious structure
(tourismthailand.org)
4. วัดอรุณราชวราราม Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).
The temple situated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is easily one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok, not only because of its riverside location, but also because the design is very different to the other temples you can visit in Bangkok.
Read more at: http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/wat-arun.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
5. วัดโสธรวรารามวรวิหาร Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan in Chachoengsao province.
Wat Sothon, has a very sacred Buddha image and is regarded as one of the most revered Buddha images by the people in Thailand. The image, in the attitude of meditation has a lap width of 1.65 meters and height of 1.98 meters, is always seen entirely pasted with gold leaves by worshipers.
Religious followers come to the temple to seek favours in the form of financial wealth and health from the Lanna-style Buddha image.
Worshippers all over the country pay high respect to this temple due to the miraculous events attributed to the statue, example, recovery from terminal illness using petals collected from the ground in front of the temple statue and made into herbal medicine. In return, a small donation is given to hired Thai dancers, attired in elaborate classical costumes and perform for the resident spirits.
The temple is particularly well known to childless couples that have a firm belief that praying to Luang Phor Sothorn will help result in pregnancy.
(https://eamulethubblog.wordpress.com)
Tourist Tip
In Thailand, Visakha Bucha Day is a public holiday, so government offices, banks and many shops are closed. Out of respect, Sales of all kinds of alcoholic drinks are banned from midnight of the religious day until midnight of the following day. Properly registered hotels are, however, exempted from the ban under the Hotels Act.
Source: Public Relations Department of Royal Thai Government Photo credit:variety.horoworld.com, dmc.tv
Hi Mod, each year I send a message to Thai friends saying สุขสันต์วันวิสาขบูชา is this right or should I say something else?
Shane
Hi Shane, we usually use “สุขสันต์” for fun occasions such as New Year or Christmas. On religious holidays Thai people don’t really give any wishes, some people might send a Buddha quote or Dhamma teaching.
Hey Mod, I’m in no way an expert, but would a better transliteration (into English) of the terms for setting birds and fish free be “bpLoi”? Came to your page because this year will join the (perhaps hundreds of) thousands of people making the evening procession up the mountain to Wat Prathet Doi Suthep the night before Visaka Bucha Day. It’s really a nice event. Many years ago I did it and there were elephants in the procession.
Sawhatdee,
Hi Mod,
I lived in Bangkok in 1968-1970 and was the top student in my 1970 8th grade Thai Customs class at Bangsue. I was chosen to participate in a Thai Ceremony where I walked around a temple (I think) that had a wall around it. I remember dressing in a nice white shirt and black pants. I also remember that I walked around the temple three times with my hands folded as if in prayer with inscence and that I passed a Spirit House along the wall that had a very old lady crouched down in front of it. There were many people there, all whom were walking in the same direction with inscence. This ceremony it took place in the daylight. There was an overhead photo on the front page of one of the two major Bangkok papers and I was right in the center of the picture. (So it must have been a major ceremony.) Unfortunately, my mom lost the paper decades ago. 🙁 Do you have any idea what ceremony it may have been and on what day the ceremony is held? Kup Koon Mach Kah. 🙂 Dave
Sawatdee ka Dave, from what you described the activity is called “เวียนเทียน Wien Tien”. “walking around (“wien”) the Wat (temple) with a candle (“tien”)”. There are three times throughout the year a “Wien Tien” is performed;
1. Makha Bucha Day
2. Asalha Bucha Day https://learnthaiwithmod.com/?p=1724
3. Wisakha Bucha Day
This activity can be performed at any temple, so I am sorry I don’t know which temple you were at.
I did the Wien Tien with my ex wife at Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai.
Thank You. I went with my wife and children to the temple but did not understand why but I respect their religion and wanted to be with them. I asked my wife but all she could explain is that it is an important day for Budda