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Today is Makha Bucha Day, a Buddhist holiday celebrated in Thailand and other SE Asian countries. In the Buddhist faith, the day is also known as Sangha Day and is honored as such in other Asian countries roughly one month later. Makha Bucha Day commemorates two separate events that occurred on the same date 45 years apart 2,500 years ago. The first was when, unbidden, 1,250 monks, all from different places spontaneously came to pay homage to the Buddha seven moths after he began his teaching. The latter event was the Buddha delivering his teachings shortly before his death. Both of these events occurred on the day of the full moon of the third lunar month, a month known in the Buddhist Pali language as ‘Makha’. ‘Bucha’, also a Pali word, means to venerate or to honor; Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month.
Makha Bucha Day is an important religious event in Thailand, honored by ceremonies at local wats. Today, Thai people go to their local temple in the morning to make merit and listen to sermons. At sunset they gather at their wat to participate in a candlelight procession called Wian Tian, in which worshipers circle the temple clockwise three times with flowers and candles in hand. These ceremonies express appreciation for the order of monks founded by the Buddha.
This year the government is holding special celebrations in Bangkok’s Sanam Luang The ceremonies will wrap up with alms being offered to 86 monks as well as a candle procession at a temple (which has yet to be decided upon). Additionally, alms will offered every weekend from March 10 to 25 with the aim of serving up to a million monks to mark the 2,600th anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment.
The spiritual aims of the day are to not commit any kind of sin, to do only good, and to purify one’s mind. So Makha Bucha Day is not a real popular holiday among the expat community. Most expats celebrate the day by posting rants on the gay Thailand forums about the country’s alcohol ban on this and other major Buddhist holy days. Due to the ban of sales of booze, many discos, clubs, and gogo bars will be closed for the day.
Hmm I remember being ‘caught out’ by these holidays once or twice. No real big deal.
Mini bar usually gets hammered and there are always ‘new friends’ hanging around somewhere like on the bank steps on Surawong Rd.
Budhism is a forgiving religion, it understands the need for these lads to still make a few baht, I do understand though some westerners get really pissed at the concept and perhaps should be warned by their accomodation venues the day before.
Some bars still open but will NOT sell you alcohol, appears to be no such restrictions on bonking though. Up to you.
Yeah Al, nice to know in advance, but 1 night with no booze isn’t all that. Besides, it’s Thailand – something tells me if you really needed a beer you could find one.