Pattaya-area Buddhists circle Wat
Nong Or, performing the Wien Thien ceremony on Visakha Bucha Day May 13.
Throughout the kingdom, this most holy of holidays on the Buddhist calendar
marks the triple occasion of the birth of Buddha, the day of his enlightenment
and his ascension to Nirvana (Photo by Thanawat Suansuk).
Staff Reporters
Pattaya-area Buddhists cast aside frivolity for reverence as they celebrated
Visakha Bucha Day from morning ‘til night.
Believers began showing up to Chaimongkol, Suttiphawan, Suttawas,
Bunyakanjanaram, and Krathungthong temples early, offering breakfast to monks to
make merit and stayed throughout the day, capping the holiday with the
traditional “wien thien” procession ceremony after dark.
Each year, Visakha Bucha Day falls on the full moon day of the 6th lunar month
according to the Thai Lunar calendar, which usually falls in May or June. This
year the holy day fell on Tuesday, May 13.
Citizens make merit, asking for
prosperity for their family.
Marking the triple occasion of the birth of Buddha, the day
of his enlightenment and his ascension to Nirvana, Visakha Bucha Day is one of
the three holiest days on the Buddhist calendar and previously was designated by
USESCO as “World Peace Day.” The educational, scientific and cultural
organization’s proclamation cited Buddhism’s teaching of humanity, mercy and
tolerance as the reasons for the designation.
Monks pray before dining.
In Pattaya, bars were closed throughout the area, frustrating
non-Buddhist tourists and venue owners offering evening entertainment. Instead,
people went to places like Pa Suttiphawan Temple for the “wien thien” procession
led by Abbot Pisanu Nittithamumo, who also offered blessings and poured holy
water on those giving alms to monks. Worshippers made merit, meditated as a form
of worship to Lord Buddha, studied dharma, and listened to monks telling of the
gratitude, intellect and purity of Lord Gautama Buddha.
With its downtown location, Chaimongkol Temple attracted the largest crowds due
to the casting of gold for a new Buddha statue. Abbot Punya Rattanaporn led the
ceremony with Education Ministry advisor Chanyuth Hengtrakul and Surat “Mike”
Mekavarakul of the Mike Group attending.
Abbot of Wat Suttawas and Chief
of the Banglamung Monk Committee, Phra Kru Pisan Punyaphiwat preaches the
dharma.
Alms offerings of meat and sweets were made at Suttawas
Temple while at wien thien ceremonies where held at Bunyakanjanaram and
Krathungthong temples, led by their respective abbots, Pladsuttassana Suthammo
and Samai Kalyano. Even foreigners attended the ceremonies, to pay their
respects to Thailand’s national religion.
In Chonburi, Gov. Khomsan Ekachai and Deputy Gov. Pongsak Preechawit led
government workers, police and students in a ceremony offering alms at province
headquarters. Followers listened to sermons, studied dharma, and marched in a
wien thien ceremony around the Sarira or Buddha relics.
In Sattahip, Royal Thai Navy’s Rerngsith Bunsongpraserth, commander of the
Sattahip Naval Base, led the line of wien thien participants as he held candles
and walked three times around the grounds of Sattahip Temple. About 500 people
listened as Abbot Vibun Thammban blessed attendees for prosperity.
“Visakha Bucha Day is a very important day for Buddhists like us since this is
the day that Lord Buddha was born, enlightened and died,” Rerngsith said. “It is
a miracle. There are precious teachings that can be practiced and implement for
solving day-to-day problems.”
Chonburi Governor Khomsan Ekachai
presents alms to monks on Visakha Bucha Day at Chonburi Provincial Hall.
Chanyuth Hengtrakul (left),
advisor to the Ministry of Education, accepts a Dr. Jivaka Kumar Bhacca
statuette from Phra Punya Rattanaporn, abbot of Wat Chaimongkol Phra Aaramluang.
Supranee Huasoon prepares items to
present to monks.
Citizens receive gifts from Phra
Pladsuttassana Suthammo, abbot of Wat Bunyakanjanaram (middle).
Buddhists offer alms during the
tak bat ceremony in the morning.
Citizens from nearby areas perform
the Wien Thien ceremony.
Releasing birds is a form of
merit, giving life to animals or opening doors of silver and gold, increasing
luck and bringing happiness and prosperity, plus escaping all that is evil.
Citizens listen to sermons and
receive blessings from monks.
Monks from Wat Bunsamphan, Soi
Khao Noi, lead citizens in the Wien Thien around the temple.
Pattaya government officials join
the festivities.
N’ Preaw and Mom Sri perform the
Wien Thien ceremony, walking 3 times around the temple, as mother wants to teach
her child about this important day in Buddhism.
Many people attend the Visakha
Bucha Day ceremonies at Wat Bunsamphan.
Naval officers and citizens walk
the Wien Thien around Wat Sattahip.
Phra Khru Vimol Thammakit, abbot
of Wat Chonglom Naklua, and monks lead the Wien Thien walk.
N’Imjai learns how to place
candles in the prayer area after completing her 3 Wien Thien rounds.
N’Namwan learns about the Wien
Thien ceremony from her parents.
Citizens arrive for the Wien Thien
ceremony in front of Wat Bunsamphan’s sermon hall, Soi Khao Noi.
A full moon on Visakha Bucha Day
brightens the night sky.
Walking Street was unusually
quiet.
Bars were closed on Walking Street
for Visakha Bucha Day.
