Visakha Bucha Day - Witness Thailand's Festival Of Lights!

Visakha Bucha Day, also spelled as Vesak or Vesakha, is one of the most important Buddhist holidays in Thailand and other Buddhist countries. It is a public holiday and falls on the full moon of the sixth lunar month, thus usually taking place in May or June. Visakha Bucha Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Lord Buddha. The country is swept in a peaceful wave of religious fervor, with local temples conducting various rituals and sermons. Tourists are also allowed to visit some of the temples to soak in the spiritual aura of the monks and locals.

Visakha Bucha Day 2024

The Visakha Bucha Day will be celebrated on 23 May 2024

Festivities and Customs of Visakha Bucha Day

Merit-Making: Visakha Bucha celebrations in Thailand start almost a week in advance when the Buddhists put yellow flags outside their homes. The Visakha Bucha day begins with devotees visiting their local temples to ‘make merit’, where they perform various rituals and donate to the welfare of their temples. Some of the prayers are offered by serving food to the temple workers. Sometimes, birds and fishes are set free as part of religious tradition to eliminate the ‘negative karma’. All these prayers are firmly rooted in committing to a life based on the tenets advocated by Buddha.

Candlelit Processions: In the evening, candle-lit processions take place at most temples throughout Thailand, where devotees and monks walk thrice around the main chapel in a clockwise direction while holding three incense sticks, a lit candle, and a lotus bud. Wiangtian, or the candle procession, is a mesmerizing moment with the air full of the smell of incense, and the spiritual intensity is highest.

Precepts: Many Buddhists take or reaffirm the Five Precepts on Visakha Bucha Day. These precepts are ethical guidelines that lay Buddhists strive to follow, such as refraining from killing, stealing, lying, and more.

Listening to Dharma:  As the day progresses, devotees attend sermons where they learn about the life and teachings of Buddha. These religious lectures on the day of Visakha Bucha revolve around the three jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma (the truth), and Sangha (the community). They also offer prayers through meditation.

Lunar Candle Procession: In some areas, especially in the northern region of Thailand, large processions are held in which thousands of candlelit lanterns are released into the night sky. This creates a spectacular and serene sight.

Alms-Giving: Devotees offer alms to monks, and many people observe the Eight Precepts, which include stricter rules on conduct and eating.

Temple Visits: People visit local temples and participate in meditation and prayer sessions.

Thai Celebrations of Visakha Bucha Day

Visakha Bucha Day is a significant religious event in Thailand and is a public holiday. All shops, restaurants, and bars are prohibited from selling alcohol on this day as a mark of respect. Most government offices and banks also remain closed on this day. However, public transport functions as usual. In 1999, the United Nations uplifted Visakha Bucha Day to an international pedestal, thus recognizing it as a global festivity. 

Temples Celebrating the Visakha Bucha Day in Thailand

Though all temples, big or small, commemorate the celebration, some stand out in scale and grandiosity. For tourists, this is the best occasion to catch a glimpse of Thai culture regarding Visakha Bucha Day.

• Phutta Monthon: Located in the Nakhon Province, the Phutta Monthon temple houses a massive statue of Buddha. As the royal family of Thailand holds the candle procession, this temple conducts some of the most memorable celebrations.
• Wat Phra Kaew Temple: The Sanam Luang situated in front of the temple hosts many events, including mass alms distribution and offerings. Established in Bangkok, The Wat Phra Kaew Temple is one of the most divine temples in Thailand. It houses the famous two-foot tall emerald statue of Buddha in his meditative position, an iconic symbol of the country.
• The Wat Pho Temple: This 7th-century temple in Bangkok holds the reclining Buddha statue, a resemblance to his death through Nirvana. The Wat Pho temple carries out The Visakha Bucha Day with much pomp and zest.
• The Wat Phrathart Doi Suthep Temple: The most prominent of all temples, The Wat Phrathart Doi Suthep temple attracts large pilgrims on Visakha Bucha Day each year. The temple also carries out significant processions to mark the day. Devotees circle the ‘Bhote’ chapel, which consists of Buddha relics that are at least four centuries old.
• Doi Suthep Temple: Located in Chiang Mai, the Doi Suthep is a leading temple in the Visakha Bucha Day celebrations. A pilgrim walk up the temple is held on the eve of the festival as well as on the day of Visakha Bucha. This three-hour walk stretching over nine km is also supported with food and beverages for visitors and tourists.
• The Wat Pan Tao: Situated in the city of Chiang Mia, the Wat Pan Tao is another excellent place to discover the traditions and rituals of the day.

History and Significance of Visakha Bucha Day

Buddha is said to have walked the earth over 2500 years ago in today's Nepal. He stepped into enlightenment or ‘Nirvana’ under the Bodhi Tree 35 years later and died at 80 in India. These three events of life, wisdom, and death of Gautama Buddha took place on the same day, and that day is celebrated as Visakha Bucha Day today.

Tips for Tourists

These are the top three tips to remember if you are a tourist or visiting the Visakha Bucha festival for the first time. Be advised that no government or official offices would function on the day of Visakha Bucha, as the festival is recognized as a public holiday.

• There would be no sale nor consumption of alcohol.
• Tourists are to be dressed in white clothes as a mark of respect as they offer prayers and rituals on Visakha Bucha Day. 
• It is advisable to plan your festive day at the temple. Prayers and offerings are usually held early in the morning. Ensure to check temple timings to view the evening processions. 

Visakha Bucha Day is undoubtedly Thailand’s most revered festival. Although the festivities of Visakha Bucha Day may not seem like the conventional way of celebration, they bear incredibly satisfying and soul-calming outcomes. It is an excellent time to plan your trip to learn more about Thai culture, their act of giving, and the holy union with divinity and spiritual bearings.