Vesak Day, also known as Visakha Bucha Day in Thailand, is one of the three most important days to Buddhists. It signifies the birth, enlightenment, and parinibbana of Lord Buddha and it also reminds Buddhists of Lord Buddha’s teachings. The other two important Buddhist days are Asahara Bucha Day that commemorates Lord Buddha’s first sermon and the Makha Bucha Day marking the gathering of Lord Buddha’s 1350 disciples without pre-arrangement on the day Lord Buddha foresaw the day of His own parrinibbana.

The exact date of Visakha Bucha varies from country to country and from tradition to tradition depending on the various lunar calendars used. In Theravada countries following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month of which happened to be May 19, 2010. In Singapore, however, Buddhists celebrate this important day on the second full moon day of the fourth lunar month according to the Chinese lunar calendar and this will be on May 28, 2010.

On Visakha Bucha Day, Buddhists are expected to demonstrate their high regard for the Triple Gems that comprise Lord Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. Buddhists strongly believe that making merit on this special day will bring extreme spiritual joy and fulfillment. In Thailand, this is marked by offering of alms to monks at the first light of dawn followed by prayers to Lord Buddha in temples, which is usually followed by a day of sermons and chanting from learned monks. The day’s ritual is wrapped up with Buddhists encircling the Ubosoth (Bhote) thrice in a clockwise direction with three joss sticks, a lighted candle and lotus buds known as the lighting candle procession.

In Singapore, Buddhists are engaged in diverse activities ranging from making offerings in temples, indulging in prayers and chanting, bathing the baby image of Lord Buddha, to some more tedious rituals and processions such as a long journey of kneeling and bowing organized by some temples. Whichever ritual one indulges in marking this important and special day, the ultimate objectives remain the accumulation and sharing of merits, joy and loving-kindness with all beings.

Sincerely

the Management

Regalia Buddhist Cultural Centre

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