210,000 lanterns illuminate Thai temple for Buddha Day
STORY: 210,000 lanterns illuminate this Thai temple for Vesak Day
Location: Dhammakaya Temple, Thailand
The holiday is one of the most important Buddhist festivals
also known as Buddha Day
[Venerable Phramaha Thossaporn Punyangkuro, Vice Director of Communication Department / Dhammakaya Foundation]
"Today is an important day as it commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and the great decease of the Lord Buddha. To mark this day, the temple has lit 210,000 LED lanterns depicting an image of his birth, enlightenment and death to honor the Lord Buddha."
The festival usually takes place in May
during the first full moon, based on the lunar calendar
and attracts tens of thousands of believers
The lighting of the lanterns is followed by meditation
and prayer in Pali, the language of ancient Buddhist scriptures