he Buddhist ceremony on the occasion of Asalha Bucha Day, and Buddhist Lent 2024 at Wat Thai Buddharama Luxembourg, Luxembourg
On 21 July 2024, Ms. Patcharamon Siriwatana, Minister Counsellor, Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels and the officials of the Embassy, on behalf of the Ambassador to Belgium, attended the Buddhist ceremony on the occasion of Asalha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent 2024 (B.E.2567) at Wat Thai Buddharama Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Phra Raja Visuddhivides, the Abbot of Wat Thai Dhammaram, Belgium, as the patron of Wat Thai Buddharama Luxembourg, led the chanting, preached and gave blessings to all participants. The event was well-attended by Thai and foreign nationals from Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany and France, who offered alms and candles to the monks for the Lent period, then joined in the mediation led by the monks.
Asalha Bucha Day is a Buddhist day that commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon, which founded the Buddhist teaching known as the four noble truths: dukkha (suffering), samudaya (origin of suffering), nirodha (cession of suffering), and magga (the process to cease suffering through “The Noble Eightfold Path”).
Buddhist Lent Day is one of the most important religious days in Buddhist tradition. This year it falls on 21 July 2024. Monks will not travel to stay overnight elsewhere but will only stay overnight in their temples for three-month period during rainy season to study the Buddha’s teachings from senior monks. Many Buddhists also use the occasion to more intensely observe the religious precepts and make merits.
The offerings of candles during the Lent represent the light of wisdom from the Buddha's teaching.