Banks, offices will be closed
This year, Makha Bucha Day (Buddhist All Saints Day) falls on Wednesday, March 4. Government offices, banks and many businesses will be closed.
This holy day commemorates the miraculous event when 1,250 disciples of the Buddha, Gautama Sakayamuni, traveled to meet with the Buddha with no prearranged agreement, at Weluwan Mahawiharn Temple in the area of Rachakhryha, India.
Devout Buddhists are expected to turn out in the thousands at local temples to conduct religious ceremonies.
Pattaya Buddhists, shown here on “Buddha Hill” (Wat Khao Phra Yai) during last year’s event, will merit and parade with candles as the area celebrates Makha Bucha Day, one of the holiest days on the Buddhist calendar.
Since this is one of the major Buddhist holidays, it is against the law for businessmen to distribute alcohol. This includes bars and restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, and community retail stores. An amendment to the decree exempts hotels from the ban.
