TRANG, 11 April 2014 – Trang province is promoting the wearing of white attire during the week of Visakha Puja day and wants the sale of alcohol to be forbidden on the day of observance.
Visakha Puja Day marks the Buddhism Trinity or three important incidents that occurred in the life of the Lord Buddha on the anniversary of his birth. They happened on the day of a full moon in the sixth lunar month.
At Wat Kapung Surin , Muang District , Trang Province, Mr. Somsak Parissuttho Hemtanond, Governor of Trang and the Trang National Office of Buddhism, as well as members of the private and public sectors are designating a “Visakha Puja Week” to promote and commemorate Visakha Puja day which falls on May 13th this year.
The three significant separate events of Visakha Puja Day are:The Buddha was born on this day. Buddha was born into a royal family in what is now Nepal, and the Buddha achieved “Enlightenment” (NIRVANA) on the same day as when He subsequently passed away at age 80 in India.
The commemorative event features the biography of the Lord Buddha and an exhibition setting of an altar table. There will also be a candlelight procession called a wian thian (wian meaning to circle around; thian meaning candle). Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the monks and members of the congregation circumambulate clockwise three times around the phra ubosot (ordination hall) – once for each of the Three Jewels – the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
The public is invited to participate in the event and officials are asked to ensure that shops comply with the alcohol sales ban, including to guard against the sale of alcohol to minors.
