Devout Buddhists celebrate auspicious day nationwide
The Nation 2011-07-16
Buddhists nationwide joyously made merit to mark Asana Bucha Day yesterday.
In Bangkok, Religious Affairs Department chief Sod DaengIed led members of the public to offer alms to 85 monks in the morning and attend a procession of Buddhist devotees with lighted candles walking clockwise around the golden pagoda at Wat Saket in the evening.
On this auspicious day, Sod also invited the attendees to worship the 2,000yearold Buddhist scripture there and urged them to do good deeds for His Majesty the King's merit and the country's peace.
The temple, famous for its Golden Mount Pagoda, also hosted a dharma quiz, a dharma play by students and dharma book sales.
In the evening, Privy Councillor Ampol Senanarong presided over a candlelighting procession at the Buddhamondhol in Nakhon Pathom.
At Ayutthaya's Phak Hai district, people made merit and watched a beautiful 100boat procession offering wax candles for the Buddhist Lent today to Wat Ladchado. The event, presided over by provincial Governor Wittaya Phewphong, also helped promote local traditions and canal conservation.
In Muang district of the Northeastern province of Surin, a large number of devout Buddhists and tourists attended a grand ceremony of 32 pairs of monks collecting alms on elephantback to mark Asana Bucha Day at the Phraya Surin Pakdee Srinarong Jang Wang Memorial. This year the Surin administration organisation set up four stands around the monument from which people could offer items to monks on the backs of elephants.
In Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, provincial Governor Raphi Phongbupphakij yesterday morning led members of the public to offer fluorescent tubes, instead of less convenient wax candles, to 84 monks to mark the religious day as well as making merit for His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, which will take place on December 5. The province is also hosting a threeday grand waxcandle procession until tomorrow at the Thao Suranari monument.
In Phichit's Muang district, parents brought their children to listen to a dharma sermon at Wat Tha Luang to instil in them a love of making merit in the Buddhist tradition. Senior monk Luangpor Thassimuneewong also distributed medicines to help people rid themselves of the vices of smoking and drinking from this Buddhist Lent period onwards.
In Chiang Mai's Chom Thong district, about 3,000 people visited the highaltitude Inthanon National Park to worship the Great Holy Relics Pagoda of NobhamethanidolNabhapolbhumisiri after making merit at Wat Phrathat Srichomthong.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Chiang Rai province saw a large number of Thai and Burmese people make merit together in Mae Sai district.
Phra Phayom Galayano, the prominent abbot of Nonthaburi's Wat Suankaew, urged people not to go to temple during festivals only out of a fad or for fun, but to make merit and practise dharma and behave appropriately.
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