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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Lunar Observation Days for 2010 & Major Buddhist Observance Days

The information below is obtained from the downloadable calendar from Amarati Monastery. To download the free calendar, kindly visit
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma6/2004cal.html

THE MAJOR FULL-MOON DAYS OF 2010 (Buddhist year 2553/54)

  • February 28 (Sunday)- Magha Puja (‘Sangha Day’)- Commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 1250 arahants, to whom the Buddha gave the exhortation on the basis of the discipline (Ovada Patimokkha).
  • May 28 (Friday)- Vesakha Puja (Wesak) (‘Buddha Day’)- Commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.
  • July 26 (Monday)- Asalha Puja (‘Dhamma Day’)- Commemorates the Buddha’s first discourse, given to the five samanas in the Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi. The traditional Rainy-Season Retreat (Vassa) begins on the next day.
  • October 23 (Saturday)- Pavarana Day- This marks the end of the three-month Vassa-retreat. In the following month, lay people may offer the Kathina-robe as part of a general alms-giving ceremony.


Lunar Observation Days for 2010/ 2553

  • January: 8 (Fri), 15 (Fri), 23 (Sat), 30 (Sat)
  • February: 7 (Sun), 13 (Sat), 21 (Sun), 28 (Sun- also Magha Puja Day)
  • March: 8 (Mon), 15 (Mon), 23 (Tue), 30 (Tue)
  • April: 7 (Wed), 12 (Tue), 21 (Wed), 28 (Wed)
  • May: 6 (Thu), 13 (Thu), 21 (Fri), 28 (Fri- also Vesakha Puja)
  • June: 5 (Sat), 11 (Fri), 19 (Sat), 26 (Sat)
  • July: 4 (Sun), 11 (Sun), 19 (Mon), 26 (Mon)
  • August: 3 (Tue), 10 (Tue), 18 (Wed), 25 (Wed)
  • September: 2 (Tue), 8 (Wed), 16 (Thu), 23 (Wed)
  • October: 1 (Fri), 8 (Fri), 16 (Sat), 23 (Sat), 31 (Sun)
  • November: 6 (Sat), 14 (Sun), 21 (Sun), 29 (Mon)
  • December: 6 (Mon), 14 (Tue), 21 (Tue), 29 (Wed)

In Thailand, laypeople may choose to observe the 8 precepts during any of the observation day above. They may visit a monastery and stay there- sometimes for a few days to observe the 8 precepts.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lunar Observation Days for 2010/ 2553


The Malaysia calender indicate that
24 Aug 2010 Tuesday is lunar day
ie full moon.

Who is correct ???

Thai Forest Tradition said...

The Observation days does not always fall on the exact day of full moon or new moon. Sometimes it is on the day, or one day before or after. It is not the same as the Chinese lunar calendar.