Buddhist Festivals and Milestones
Visakha Puja Day
• Full moon of May• Believed to be day of
birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha
• People gather at monasteries with flowers, candles and incense while reciting the 3 refuges
Magha Puja Day
• Full moon of March• Celebrates the
proclamation of basic Buddhist principles and a sermon called the Basis of Success
• Food offered to monks, and other activities that bring good karma
Loy Krathong(Festival of Floating Bowls)
• In Thailand on full moon of 12th lunar month
• Float bowls made of leaves on rivers
• Bowls contain candles and incense
• Believed that bowls carry bad luck away
Early life
• When a boy is 1 month old, he is taken to meet with a monk, and his head is shaved.
• Some boys will stay with monks for an extended time, as novices
Becoming a monk
• Stage one:– Starts at 7-8 years old– Undertakes 10 precepts and
acts as an attendant to a senior monk, who teaches him
• Stage two:– Starts when 20, and is able
to read– Monks renounce their
possessions and keep only that which is needed (robe, razor, alms bowl)
Marriage
• Bride and groom go to temple and receive a blessing from monk
• Monk does not attend wedding
Funeral
• Based on cremation customs in Hinduism
• Burial is permitted• Ceremony consists of water-
pouring rituals, cremation, final prayers, and a shared meal
• Monks perform a short service including chants
• Everyone recites the Triple Refuge and Five Precepts before pyre is lit