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