Makha puja

Monks“Makha” in Pali, the sacred language of Buddhists, as Latin for Catholics is the name of the third lunar month, and “Bucha” is awe and respect. Makha Bucha is a day of gratitude to the Buddha for his teachings brought to people.

Makha Puja is one of the most important Buddhist holidays. It falls on the day of the full moon of the third lunar month (approximately the last week of February, early March). This day is associated with four important events that occurred in the life of the Buddha:

1,250 Buddhist monks (each on their own initiative, without prior arrangement) came from various places to honor the Buddha in Veluvan Vihara in Rajgaha, the capital of the country of Magah.

All of them were enlightened monks (or Arahantas). All were initiated into monks by the Buddha (Yehi Bhihu). They gathered together on the full moon day on the third lunar month. In the evening of the same day, the Buddha preached to them the sermon “Ovada Patimoka”, during which he advanced the basic principles of his teaching and, in the end, came to three truths: do good, refrain from evil and purify your mind. For a long time it was when they began to celebrate Makha Puja. However, King Chulalongkorn’s annual religious ceremonies manual states: There has been no Makha Puja in the past. The ceremony was first held during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). King Rama IV understood the importance of this day, and in 1851 ordered the first Makha Puja Royal Ceremony to be held in the Emerald Buddha Temple.

Ancient Buddhist Temple, Ayutthaya

Later, the holiday gained widespread recognition throughout the kingdom. This day is declared a holiday so that people from all walks of life can come to the temple to perform religious rites in the morning and take part in the candle procession or "Vien Tien" in the evening. In connection with this holiday, His Majesty personally directs religious rites in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and then leads a candle procession inside the temple complex. In fact, candle processions can be held at any convenient time - in the morning or in the evening. However, in Bangkok, they are held, as a rule, in the evening, about 8 hours, and are headed by monks.

The celebration takes place throughout the country in temples and monasteries. At the end of the day, everyone gathers for the main prayer in the central hall of the temple. At its end, the image of the Buddha, festively decorated on this occasion, is erected on a special stretcher, and all those present make a symbolic move around the temple three times clockwise. They hold candles, incense sticks and lotus flowers.

This ritual is performed to “consolidate” the three basic principles of Buddhist philosophy: non-resistance to evil, the cultivation of good, and the purification of the mind. This day also pays homage to the three fundamental Jewels of Buddhism: the most enlightened Buddha, the Dharma – his teachings and the Sangkha – brotherhood of Buddhist monasticism, those who keep this teaching.