Do You Know Traditions to Celebrate Vesak in Thailand?

As a country with a majority of Buddhists, Thailand celebrates the Thrice Sacred Day 2568 BE (Buddhist Era). According to Kompas, Vesak Day commemorates three significant events of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, his great enlightenment as the Buddha, and his death.

Did you know that those three significant events all occurred on the same day, during the full moon in May? This is why Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak Day in this month. In Thailand, there are traditions commonly observed during the Vesak celebration. The following are those traditions:

Praying at the Temple

Vesak Day in Thailand usually begins with a prayer ritual at the temple in the morning. The whole family typically joins in this prayer. After praying, they also listen to sermons about Buddhist teachings—Tiratana, Sangha, and Dhamma.

In preparation for Vesak Day, Buddhists in Thailand generally put up yellow flags outside their homes. These flags are hung a week before the Vesak celebration.

Offering Food to Monks

Besides listening to sermons, after praying, Buddhists in Thailand offer food to the monks at the temple. As described by Kompas, monks typically do not eat after 12:00 PM. Therefore, food is distributed before the monks’ last meal of the day.

Additionally, Buddhists also share their blessings with those in need, such as the sick, disabled, elderly, and other less fortunate people. This activity is considered a way of giving charity to others. It allows everyone to feel the joy of the Vesak celebration.

Walking Around the Temple with Candles

During the peak of the Vesak celebration, Buddhists and Buddhist monks circle the temple three times clockwise while carrying a lotus flower, three sticks of incense, and lit candles. In Thailand, this activity of Buddhists circling the temple is called Wian Tian.

Throughout the procession, they chant prayers together for a better life in the future. The peak of the Vesak celebration generally takes place at night around 7:00 PM. Before this, there is a candle-lighting ceremony—often referred to as Thailand’s Festival of Light.

Visiting Wat Chalong & Big Buddha Statue

During the Vesak celebration, Thai people usually visit Wat Chalong or Wat Chaithararam. Wat Chalong is one of the most popular temples in Thailand, built to honor two monks, Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Chaem. This temple, constructed in 1876, is located in the Chalong Sub-District, about 10 km from the center of Phuket City.

During Vesak, this temple is crowded with people who go to the sala. Sala is a type of hall containing a Buddha statue and photos of the two monks. There, people usually pray and bring offerings such as food, daily necessities, and other items for the monks.

Besides Wat Chalong, Thai people—especially those in Phuket—also visit the Big Buddha statue on Karon Hill. There, they pray in front of the Buddha statue while bringing food offerings for the monks. As mentioned earlier, this food is brought early because monks do not eat after 12:00 PM.

Those are some of the traditions commonly practiced by Buddhists in Thailand during the Vesak celebration. Interested in the celebration and want to see it for yourself? You can join in the festivities at place, such as Wat Phan Tao Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Chiang Mai, Wat Phra Kaew Bangkok, and Phutthamonthon Nakhon.

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