Makha Bucha

Makha Bucha

News: On Makha Bucha, nearly 100,000 devotees in Bangkok paid homage to the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples, Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalyayana.

Background:
• These relics were brought from India.
• The four Holy Piparahwa Relics were enshrined at the specially built Pagoda in the Sanam Luang Pavilion in Bangkok on February 23rd for public veneration.
• Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalyayana are two of the Buddhas most important disciples. They are often depicted together in Buddhist art, with Sariputra on the Buddhas right and Maudgalyayana on his left.

About:
• Makha Bucha, also known as Māgha Pūjā, is a significant Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month. The term ‘Makha’ comes from the word ‘Magha’ in Pali, the sacred language of the religious texts of Theravada Buddhism, and refers to the third lunar month. ‘Bucha’ is a Thai word, derived from the Pali word ‘Puja’, which means ‘to venerate’ or to honour.
• The festival commemorates a historic gathering that took place ten months after the enlightenment of Buddha. On this day, 1,250 disciples, who were the Buddha’s direct spiritual descendants, joined in a meeting without being summoned. During the meeting, Buddha delivered a summary of Buddhism, dealing with principles such as “purification of mind” and doing good. This teaching became known as the “Heart of Buddhism” and is central to the Makha Bucha festival.
• In Thailand, a candlelight procession called wian thian is held in the Buddhist temples. Monks and people walk around the temple three times with flowers, candles, and incense in their hands