The Religious Affairs Department is joining
hands with several government agencies and religious organizations in holding a
Buddhism Week from 10 to 14 February 2014, on the occasion of Magha Puja
Festival.
Magha Puja, the first major Buddhist anniversary
of the year, falls on the full-moon day of the third lunar month. Magha Puja
Day in 2014 is on 14 February, coinciding with Valentine's Day.
Various activities during the Buddhism Week take
place in both Bangkok and the provinces. In Bangkok, the focal point of the
festival is at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. There will be merit-making,
chanting of holy texts, exhibitions, sermons, and a wian thian ceremony.
A special program will be arranged for members of the public to travel by boat
and by bus to pay homage to nine temples in Bangkok.
Magha Puja commemorates a day when 1,250 monks,
all from different places and on their own initiative, spontaneously came to
pay homage to the Buddha. All of them were enlightened monks, and they had been
individually ordained by the Buddha himself. Such a unique gathering has never
occurred anywhere else.
The Religious Affairs Department intends to
encourage the people, especially the new generation, to be aware of the
significance of Magha Puja and to adopt Buddhist principles in leading their
lives. Since Magha Puja Day this year coincides with Valentine's Day, the
people will be urged to give gardenia flowers to their loved ones as a way of
showing affection. The gardenia flower, known in Thai as dok phut,
represents love and purity, and it is a symbol of Magha Pjua Day. Gardenias
will also be sold at Sanam Luang during the Buddhism Week for charity purposes.
On 15 February, one day after the celebration of
Magha Puja Day, the Office of National Buddhism and the World Fellowship of
Buddhist Youth will jointly organize a ceremony to present the World Buddhist
Outstanding Leader Award. The award presentation will take place at the Museum
Auditorium, at Buddhamonthon, Nakhon Pathom province.
The year 2014 is the first year when the awards
are to be presented to individuals and organizations for their contribution to
Buddhism. A total of 178 recipients from 27 countries worldwide will receive
the awards in 2014. Among these recipients are 38 monks from Thailand.
The objectives of organizing the first World
Buddhist Outstanding Leader Award are to worship the Buddha and support
activities during the celebration of Magha Puja Day 2014.
The World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) is
the international network of Buddhist youth organizations around the world
sharing the same aims of propagation and promote understanding of Buddhism to
youth. Today, WFBY membership has expanded to 38 regional centers in 18
countries.
(thailand.prd.go.th)