By Itsarin Tisantia
Buddhists across Thailand will celebrate the birth of Buddhism on Visakha Bucha Day, which this year falls on May 13. Local temples and other organisations will arrange religious activities to mark the sacred day throughout the kingdom.
This week’s Exercises looks at the Lord Buddha’s birth and some of the activities that will be held on May 13.
Visakha Bucha Day is one of the most important events of the year for Buddhists. It marks three important incidents in the life of the Lord Buddha, including his birth, nirvana or enlightenment, and passing, all of which happened on the same day — the full moon of the sixth lunar month.
HOLY SITE
The Lord Buddha, or Prince Siddhattha, was born to King Suddhodana and Queen Siri Maha Maya in Lumbini, Nepal. He was born 80 years before the Buddhist Era.
Lumbini later became a famous place of pilgrimage. According to UNESCO, the site is now home to a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha are exhibited.
TEMPLE CELEBRATIONS
The celebrate Visakha Bucha Day this year, Nakhon Phanom’s Phrathat Cherngchum Temple will deliver a sermon, organise a candle procession, and arrange a lotus-shaped lantern contest on May 13. Pah Sutthawas Temple in the same province will present exhibitions about Vishakha Bucha Day and hold a dhamma quiz contest.
WORSHIP EVENTS
The Tourism Authority of Thailand in association with Uttaradit Cultural Centre have arranged the Lord Buddha Relics Worship event, which is set to be held from May 13 to 21. On this occasion, a funeral ceremony will be held in remembrance of the Lord Buddha’s passing. Participants can join in to cremate a Buddha image used to represent Lord Buddha at Phra Barommathat Thungyang in Uttaradit province.
Exercises
Read through Exercises. Then, match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| ……. 1. cremate | a. the fact of somebody dying |
| ……. 2. pilgrimage | b. a journey to a holy place for religious reasons |
| ……. 3. passing | c. to burn a dead body, especially as part of a funeral ceremony |
| ……. 4. lantern | c. a lamp in a transparent case |
Vocabulary
- archaeological (adj): related to the study of past cultures and of periods of history by examining the remains of buildings and objects found in the ground
sermon (n): a talk on a moral or religious subject, usually given by a religious leader during a service
