Magha Puja

Māgha Pūjā or Makha Bucha is an important religious festival celebrated by Buddhists on the full moon day of the third lunar Month for over than 2500 years old. It marks the four auspicious occasions which happened nine months after the Enlightenment of the Buddha near near Rājagaha in Northern India.

1. It was the full-moon day.
2. There were 1,250 Sangha followers, that came to see the Buddha that evening without any schedule.
3. All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself.
4. All of them were "Arhantas',the Enlightened One.

The Buddha gave those 1,250 Arhantas principles of the Buddhism, called "The ovadhapatimokha" describing purpose, principles, and procedures to the synergy of the spread of Buddhism for the peace and happiness of mankind.

Alms-giving Ceremony

Start early in the morning on Makha Bucha day with Tak Bard, offering food to the monks in the alm bowl. The ceremony takes place in the ourdoor Grand Meditation Square at Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya. Withness the gathering of many thousands of monks from "the 100,000 monks mass ordination program from every village in Thailand" who will be present at the Cetiya, and tens of thousand Buddhists who will be joining the ceremony. The mass parade of thousands of monks on their Alms rounds will be the never before seen and unforgettable sight for those who participate, as if the whole land is showered with warm light of Dhamma. Like the Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Ven. Dhammajayo Bhikkhu) said that no image is more beautiful than the images of crowds of people who gather to do merit. These images are historic and will be flowed into your heart as if the gentle stream of goodness is there to keep you happy and serene all day.

Mass meditation and lunch offering

Later in the morning, the Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Ven. Dhammajayo Bhikkhu), the abbot of the Dhammakaya temple will be leading the mass pray and meditation for the purification of those who participate. The program is followed by Lunch Offering Ceremony to the monks.

National Dhamma Quiz Award 28 and World-PEC Award

The afternoon program is presided by the Most Venerable Phrabhavanaviriyakhun (Ven. Dattajeevo Bhikkhu), the vice abbot of the temple, in order to deliver the 28th National Dhamma Quiz and the WORLD-Peace Ethic Contest (World-PEC) Awards to both Thai and international winners.

The awards will also be delivered by internationally recognized guests who will participate in the ceremony. Through out the program, it will be filled as if orchestrated by the applause of the crowds to honor the winners. Followed by a photo session of the winners with the Most Venerable and other distinguished guests, and the speech by the Most Venerable.

The annual illumination ceremony at Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya

"I'm the candlelight
I am a kind of brilliant light
I am like a glorious light
My mind inside is candle bright"

The sunset over the horizon, giving way to the moonlight. The lantern of the night sky which is now decorated by brilliant light of the hundreds thousands of lanterns, lit by the monks and all participants, as if to say that the light of Dhamma has shone inside everyone's mind. Hundreds thousands of lantern light being lit fabricate the shining sea of Dhamma that casts the darkness of the night sky away, as well as marking the light of enlightenment for mankind.