Ceremonies mark Visakha Puja Day nationwide
Devout Buddhists nationwide attended various merit-making activities including alms offering and releasing animals on Wednesday to mark Vesak Day, or Visakha Puja Day.
In the capital, Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang led officials and members of the public to attend a morning alms-giving session at Huamark Indoor Stadium.
At Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmungklaram, or Wat Pho, Deputy Prime Minister General Thanasak Patimapragorn led state officials, diplomats from Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Bhutan, and Thai members of the public to circumambulate the Ubosot at the temple. He also presided over the opening ceremony of the “Buddhism Week” event featuring various activities including a prayer contest praising the Triple Gem in the Sonphanya melody, a Buddhism quiz and a lantern-making contest.
Similar merit-making activities took place in various provinces. In Samut Prakan’s Bang Plee district, a throng of Buddhists went to Wat Luangpor Tho to pray and listen to sermons on the teachings of the Lord Buddha as well as to release fish and birds. They also planned to attend a candlelight procession circumambulating the temple’s Ubosot in the evening.
In Chiang Rai’s Chiang Khong district, a Thai-Lao alms-giving session was held at midnight in line with the northern tradition to mark “Peng Phud”, or the Buddhist Day full moon occurring on Wednesday, at Wat Hat Khrai in Tambon Wiang.
In Phichit, many people went to Wat Tha Luang in Muang district to make merit and to give farmers cows and buffaloes that were destined for the slaughterhouse.
