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Visakha Bucha Day is a significant public holiday in Thailand that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. It falls on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, typically in May or early June. This day is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Day due to its importance for Buddhists worldwide.
The history of Visakha Bucha traces back to the life events of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. All three major events of Buddha's life cycle happened on the same day but different years. The convergence of these events makes this day particularly sacred.
On Visakha Bucha Day, Thai Buddhists engage in various religious activities to honor the Buddha's teachings:
Temple Visits: People go to temples early in the morning to make merit by offering food to monks, listening to Dhamma talks, and participating in meditation sessions.
Almsgiving: Almsgiving is a common practice where devotees offer food and other necessities to monks.
Circumambulation: In the evening, worshippers join candle-lit processions (wian tian), walking three times around a temple's main shrine while holding flowers, incense sticks, and a lit candle.
Observance: Many practitioners observe the Eight Precepts, more stringent moral guidelines than the usual Five Precepts followed by lay Buddhists.
Aside from religious practices, on Visakha Bucha Day:
Government offices, schools, and most businesses are closed.
Sale of alcohol is prohibited nationwide as a sign of respect for religious practices.
Some people may also release animals like birds or fish as an act of liberation that symbolizes releasing one's own negative karma.
