The holiest of all Buddhist holidays is commemorated on the full-moon day of the sixth lunar month known as the Visakha month which normally falls in May. In a leap year it will fall in the first week of June. Three defining events in the life of the Lord Buddha all took place on the Visakha full-moon day: he was born, 35 years later he achieved enlightenment and 45 years after enlightenment he died and entered Nirvana. The Buddhist Era began on this day 2,548 years ago.
Visakha Bucha Day is a public holiday in Thailand and an important family occasion for Thai Buddhists who will visit the temple and make merit. With banks and government offices being closed. A celebration of life, all life and the importance of it. It’s also a day when many Buddhists will make an extra effort to uphold the Five Precepts of Buddhist teachings which include abstinence from alcohol. Alcohol is also not allowed to be sold or consumed on Visakha Bucha Day. While this is the official rule, like many things here in Thailand enforcement is not uniform and across the board. True followers of Buddhism will not kill any animals during the three day celebration.
Devout Buddhists will participate in ceremonies at temples, making merit in the morning by bringing alms to monks and listening to their sermons. In the evening they assemble at temples to conduct the “Wien Thien” this ceremony involves walking around sacred temple grounds three times while holding candles, joss sticks and flowers honoring the Lord Buddha, and his teachings, the Dhamma and the Buddhist Monastic Order, the Sang
In Bangkok his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej preforms these duties at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Located within the Grand Palace complex here in Bangkok.
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