Monks and devotees take part in a candlelight procession on Visakha Bouxa Day.

Vesak Day: a Buddhist tradition and part of Lao culture

Vesak Day, better known in Laos as Visakha Bouxa Day, is a nationwide celebration that is an age-old Buddhist festival as well as being an important part of Lao culture.
The Visakha Bouxa festival is the most important Buddhist festival and commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
Boun Visakha Bouxa is observed annually on the full moon day or the 15th day of the sixth lunar month, which this year occurred on May 4.

People give alms on this year’s Visakha Bouxa Day at the That Luang stupa in Vientiane. (File photos)

The festival is celebrated by Buddhists around the country with many rituals and activities that always attract a large number of people, who take this special opportunity to perform good deeds and earn merit.
In Laos, the festival begins with overnight chanting of the scriptures at temples, as people gather to reaffirm and reflect upon their faith. People gather to hear the teachings of Buddha in the evening of the 14th day (the night of the day before the full moon day) and give alms on the morning of 15th day. Throughout this day they will continue to present offerings to monks and the festival ends in the evening with a candlelight procession.
In the days leading up to the festival, monks and novices at each temple, especially in large towns, prepare for the event by cleaning and decorating their temple with Buddhist and Lao flags. Some temples also display pictures depicting images of Buddha’s life and previous celebrations of Visakha Bouxa Day.
Monks at temples in Lao cities and provincial capitals, such as in Vientiane Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak, hold overnight chanting sessions when people recite Buddhist tenets and share in various customs.
Those wishing to make merit welcome the opportunity to display their faith. They wear white clothes as a sign of the purity of their minds and a mark of their sincerity.
The Venerable Bounma Homsombath at the temple in Nongda village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane, said “Like other temples, our temple organises rituals and activities to mark Visakha Bouxa Day. These mostly consist of almsgiving and the offering of other items to monks, listening to Dhamma, chanting, and meditation.”
“Visakha Bouxa is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar and monks and devotees nationwide celebrate it, along with Buddhists around the world. It is important because it recalls three of the most significant events in Buddha’s life - his birth, enlightenment and death. The rituals may vary from place to place, with some being fairly extravagant and others being more simple.”

Monks and government officials take part in Visakha Bouxa Day rituals in Vientiane.

“In Laos, Visakha Bouxa has been observed for many generations. It is a fine tradition and a part of Lao culture. I think it’s important that this custom is preserved and continued because it’s an opportunity for people to consider the importance of good deeds and the things that are noble and worthy in life.”
Vesak is especially observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Although Buddhist festivals have centuries-old traditions, the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950 formalised the decision to celebrate Vesak as Buddha’s birthday.
In 2000, the United Nations resolved to internationally observe the day at its headquarters and offices.
On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, which are significant to Buddhists of all traditions. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways.
Devout Buddhists and followers assemble in temples before dawn for the ceremonial hoisting of the Buddhist flag and the singing of hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings), and The Sangha (his disciples). Devotees may bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and incense as part of the ceremony.
In some places, devotees are encouraged to make a special effort to refrain from killing of any kind and to eat only vegetarian food on this day.
Birds, insects and animals may be released by devotees in what is known as “life release”, to give freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will.
Some devout Buddhists wear simple white clothing and spend the whole day at a temple with renewed determination to observe the eight precepts.
Celebrating Vesak is also seen as a time to make a special effort to bring happiness to those who are elderly, disabled, or ill.
In Laos, there are sometimes extensive celebrations in Vientiane, such as in 2019, when the festival included a procession, parades, performances, and other events.
The Lao Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation, as the main Buddhist organisation in Laos, in cooperation with the Lao Front for National Development, annually leads Buddhists to observe Visakha Bouxa Day.
This year, the two organisations hosted events at the Pha That Luang esplanade in Vientiane on May 4, in front of a statue of Chao Xaysetthathirath.
People gathered to give alms and other offerings to 45 monks in the morning, and in the evening listened to a sermon about Visakha Bouxa Day, followed by a candlelight procession, chanting of the scriptures, and quiet reflection.
These customs attracted a large number of people, who renewed their faith and enjoyed sharing in familiar Buddhist practices with other members of their close-knit community, strengthening their solidarity and their deep devotion to Buddha.

Devotees wait to give alms at the That Luang esplanade.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 12, 2023)