June 2023 is another busy month full of festivals and events
Visakha Bucha Day celebrations, Loei’s famous Phi Ta Khon Festival, the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2023, Cross-Region Travel Fair, many marathons/half marathons, and more is all happening this month.
Along with numerous events and festivals happening around Thailand – including the Bun Luang and Phi Ta Khon Festival 2023 in Loei, the Amazing Thailand Grande Sale 2023 in six destinations across the country, and many different marathons and half marathons, the month of June 2023 also sees one of the most important Buddhist dates observed, this being Visakha Bucha Day on 3 June.
Visakha Bucha Day
Held each year on the full moon of the sixth lunar month, Visakha Bucha Day celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha. On this day, Buddhists will go to the temple in worship and remembrance of the teachings and social and spiritual values of Buddha, and perform merit-making and candlelight ceremonies. This includes an evening Wien Tien candlelit procession where Buddhist devotees hold lighted candles in hand and go around a temple three times, representing one the Buddha, two his teachings, and three the monkhood.
Sukhothai ‘Wien Tien Ta Khan’ Visakha Bucha Day 2023
2-3 June 2023, Wat Chang Lom, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai
The ‘Wien Tien Ta Khan’ candlelit procession will take place at 19.00 Hrs. on 3 June. The word ‘Ta Khan’ refers to a traditional clay lamp unique to the ancient city of Sukhothai. On 2 June, there will be a Khon show on the Ramayana story and a series of performances by Sukhothai College of Dramatic Arts. On 3 June, there will be theatrical royal drama performances along with star gazing activities. There will also be local food and goods on sale during the two-day event.
Mae Hong Son Visakha Bucha Day 2023
2-4 June 2023, Ban Chong Kham School and Wat Phra That Doi Kongmu, Mae Hong Son
Known locally as Nataya Heng-sattha Gingala Nom Bucha Visakhaburamee, the event is a traditional merit-making ceremony held every year in Mae Hong Son on Vesakha Bucha Day. The event is among the 16 distinctive festivals from around Thailand identified by the Ministry of Culture to be promoted on the international stage. In line with this, Mae Hong Son province is elevating the event with even more spectacular Gingala Lanna Bird Dance comprising at least 200 Gingala bird dancers, along with Gingala bird processions from nine ethic groups in Mae Hong Son as well as from other Northern Thai provinces. There are also Gingala bird dance competitions and exhibition. At the heart of the event, the Visakha Bucha Day celebration at Wat Phra That Doi Kongmu on 3 June will be a morning alms offering to Buddhist monks, prayers and meditation, and a Wien Tien candlelight procession.
Nakhon Phanom Visakha Bucha Day 2023
3 June 2023, Wat Phra That Phanom, Nakhon Phanom
The key element of the Visakha Bucha Day Celebration in Nakhon Phanom is the ‘Khao Thip’ or Madhupayas rice (milk-rice pudding with honey) making ceremony – a ritual observed in many local communities throughout Thailand on Visakha Bucha Day. At Wat Phra That Phanom, Buddhist monks will perform a chanting during the rice making ceremony, and once the ceremony is completed, the rice will be shared among locals for good fortune and health.
Kanchanaburi Visakha Bucha Day 2023
3 June 2023, Wat Tha Khanun, Kanchanaburi
Wat Tha Khanun holds the Wien Tien candlelit procession three times a year on Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, and Asahna Bucha Day. On these days, the temple places thousands of lit lanterns or ‘Pang Prathip’ to create letters or pictures dedicated to Buddha.
World’s Only Wien Tien Ceremony on Water, Phayao Lake
3-5 June 2023, Wat Tilok Aram, Phayao
The Wien Tien or candlelight procession on water at Wat Tilok Aram takes place three times a year on the Buddhist holidays of Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, and Asahna Bucha Day. Here, the Wien Tien where Buddhist devotees hold lighted candles in hand and go around a temple three times is done on water, making it the only place in the world that has this ceremony. This is because Wat Tilok Aram was built in the water, in the island at the centre of Phayao Lake. On the Visakha Bucha Day 2023, the ceremony will feature 50 boats that will circle Wat Tilok Aram three times.
Kalasin Visakha Bucha Day 2023
3-7 June 2023, Phrathat Yakhu, Kamalasai District, Kalasin
This is held at the province’s landmark Phrathat Yakhu chedi. Activities include a worship parade and ceremony by more than 2,290 dancers from Kalasin College of Dramatic Arts, light and sound performances, and over 1,600 traditional Isan flags or ‘thung’ and traditional Praewa and Isan clothes on show as part of the celebrations.
