Both Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent Day are important occasions for Buddhists to perform merit making and practice Dhamma for peace and happiness.

Buddhist Join Merit on Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent Day

Asalha Puja Day is the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month (July). It is an anniversary of the day on which Lord Buddha delivered the First Sermon to his first five disciples at the Deer Park in Benares almost two thousand five hundred years ago. This is an occasion for the Buddhists to recapture the essence of the fundamental teaching of Lord Buddha. The miseries and sorrows of life are due to insatiable selfishness and greedy desire.

Until these causes are brought under control, the human mind will never know true and everlasting happiness. The Eightfold Noble Path i.e. Right View, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood. Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Rapture, provides the guideline for mankind to follow in order to be at peace with oneself.

First Day of Buddhist Lent follows Asalha Puja Day. The Tradition of Buddhist Lent dates back to the time of early Buddhism when active missionary work was carried out by travelling priests. Asalha Puja Day As the number of travelling priests appeared to rise considerably, the leading teachers of the Order deemed it appropriate to lay down a rule which called for a pause in travelling during the rainy season.

Buddhist priests thus began to gather in groups of simple dwellings. Buddhist Lent covers a good part of the rainy season and lasts three lunar months. In Thailand, Buddhist priests resolve to stay in a temple of their choice and will not take an abode in other temple until the Lent is over.

The celebration of the beginning of Buddhist Lent is marked by the ceremony of presenting candles to the priests. Quite often, a huge decorated candle is carried in a colourful procession leading to a temple where the offering of the candle will be made. It is a time for combining high-spirited festive moods with the deep religious feeling.

Some Buddhist followers consider the beginning of Buddhist Lent a time for making resolutions such as refraining from drinking alcoholic liquids, gambling and exploiting animals for food and pleasure and so on.

Some of the interesting festivals are as follows:

Tak Bat Dok Mai (Merit-making Festival) in Saraburi: The wondrous merit event is held on Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) when the local people will make merit and offer candles at Wat Phra Buddha Bat. At the same time, flowers are offered as alms to the monks on both sides of the path leading to the chapel on the Buddha Footprint.

Candle Festive Ubon Ratchathani: It is held on the full moon of the eight at month or on the Asanha Puja Day. The ceremony is held on the Thung Si Muang ground where there is a contest of the best candles. There is a grand procession of candles around the town before they are offered to the monasteries.

Activities at Assumption University of Thailand

Alms Giving and Merit Making on the Buddhist Lent Day occasion, the Office of Thai Arts and Culture, Student Affairs, led by Rev. Bro. Dr. Verayuth Boonpram, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Rev. Bro. Dr. Achin Tengtrakul, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, performed the religious activities leading a group of faculty members, staff and students in the merit-making ceremony. The AU group presented the carved candle and other necessities to the Sukhun Tawat Temple, Bangbo District, on July 6, 2022.

In keeping with the traditions of the Buddhist Lent occasion and to encourage faculty and international students appreciate the Thai cultural values & significance of Buddhist practices, Office of Thai Arts and Culture, Student Affairs, performed the religious activities leading a group of faculty members, staff and students in merit-making ceremony. Directed by Ms. Sasitorn Tassanaiyana, the AU group presented the carved candle and other necessities to the Sukhun Tawat Temple, Bangbo District, on July 1, 2020. Read more…



Ms. Sasitorn Tassanaiyana, Director, Office of Thai Art and Culture, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, led a group of faculty members, staff and students to perform the religious activities; making merit marking the “Buddhist Lent.” The group presented the elegantly carved candle and other necessities to the Sukhun Tawat Temple, Bangbo district, on July 4, 2018. Read more…

Sources:

Manilerd, C. (1988). Asanha Puja and Buddhist Lent. In Thai customer and beliefs (pp.33-36). Office of the National Culture Commission, Ministry of Education.

The Thai peole and culture. (2000). Public Relations Dept. Office of the Prime Minister.

Special Report: Asalha Puja celebrates existence of Triple Gem. (2014).                               
           https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/special-report-asalha-puja-celebrates-existence-of-triple-gem-39468

Related Links:

Asalha Puja Day. Ministry of Culture

AU Representatives Make Merit Commemorating the Buddhist Lent

AU Representatives Making Merit Commemorating the Buddhist Lent Period

Buddhist Lent Day. Ministry of Culture

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