| The Magha Puja is regarded as the Buddhist Holy | | | | * Purify self and the mind |
| day and is duly a national holiday in Thailand, | | | | The Magha Puja day is supposed to be the |
| usually held on a full-moon day in the third month, | | | | beginning and spread of Buddhism to Thailand and |
| that is March. The day is considered auspicious | | | | the other neighboring countries. |
| and has great significance because of the following | | | | The Thai use this day to perform merit makings. |
| four main reasons: | | | | Food items are prepared and given away to the |
| • On this day 1250 Arahantas (the holy one, | | | | monks. Dhama, a technique of meditation and |
| the worthy one, and the accomplished one) from | | | | mind cleansing, is usually practiced by the older |
| various places arrived and came together at the | | | | people today. Many people also stay the nights at |
| Veruvana Temple, Rajgarh city. | | | | the temple. |
| • Each of the Arahantas were respectively | | | | A candle procession is held in the evening. Around |
| ordained by the Buddha. | | | | 6 pm, the monks and the priests arrive at the |
| • All the Arahantas arrived with no prior | | | | main temple (Bod) and the procession is led by |
| intimation and entirely on their own. | | | | the chief monk. People come together and floral |
| • It was a full moon day. | | | | decorations along with candles and joss sticks are |
| The concurrence of all the above four events | | | | used. Once the prayer ceremony is over, the |
| marks the “Jaturongkasannibath” . On this | | | | people follow the procession led by the monks |
| day, Lord Buddha gave the holy sermon | | | | around the main temple or the Bod. This particular |
| “Ovadha Patimokha” to the Arahantas. | | | | part of the day has great significance and implies |
| The essential themes of the lecture are: | | | | the importance of the teachings of Lord Buddha |
| * Commit no sins | | | | – of being kind, committing no sins, and |
| * All actions should be to do good | | | | cleansing self. |