Spiritual Sky Incense Sticks
A Day Of Quiet Contemplation On Candle-Lit Magha Puja Day
With its cascading paddy fields, lush mountain ranges and sky-scraping metropolises, Thailand is truly a culmination of the best that Asia has to offer. Home to a diverse community of peoples that are as welcoming as its landscapes, it rightly deserves its reputation as one of the region’s premier holiday destinations. You haven’t seen Asia if you haven’t been to Thailand for it is a land of culture, heritage and a rich religious legacy; it is also a land of festivals and nowhere are the public holidays more vibrantly celebrated than in its capital Bangkok.
The Thai calendar can be described as one that is chockfull of religious red letter days and colourful festivities. Some of the most anticipated events of the year include the River of Kings festival, Makha Bucha Day, Songkran, Chakri Day and Loy Krathong with its bright candles and many more. But locals and seasoned visitors alike agree that there’s none quite like Magha Puja Day in Bangkok. Modestly clad Buddhists pay homage to the philosophies of Buddhism in what can be described as one of the most spiritually rich experiences one can hope to gain while in Asia.
Taking place annually during one of the most auspicious periods in the Buddhist calendar, the Magha Puja usually occurs on the third full moon on the third lunar month, usually in the month of February. Declared a national public holiday, this Puja is unique to Laos and Thailand as the faithful flock to temples to engage in pious activities and religious observances.
Finding its origins in 2500 years of history, the day commemorates Lord Buddha’s teachings of abstaining from all evil, doing what affords merit and cleansing one’s mind. The morning hours of the Magha Puja Day is devoted to frequenting temples and performing certain rites and activities while the evening sees the candle-lit procession of "Wien Thien" when Buddhist priests and devotees each carry a bouquet of flowers, three incense sticks and candles and circle the central shrine three times. This signifies a tribute to what Buddhists call the Triple Gem.
Silas are also popular during this time of the year as Buddhists flock to the temple to devote an entire day to the teachings of Lord Buddha and bring his teachings closer to their own lives. Providing alms is another venerated activity as the act of giving and selfless generosity is deemed a key characteristic in any pious Buddhist. Specially prepared alms are served to monks and fellow worshipers in an effort to earn merit and goodwill.
The day is also one full of contemplation and meditation as all material concerns are abandoned for spiritual oneness with the mind. Bhavana or meditation on one’s own soul and its salvation is a key ingredient in the journey towards enlightenment that all Buddhists hope to achieve.
The President Solitaire Bangkok provides comfortable and luxurious accommodation for all visitors, as a first class Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11. With its top-notch amenities and modern facilities, this enchanting accommodation offers guests a fine hotel apartment Bangkok is pleased to call its own.
About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
