Several thousand Cambodian devotees will take part in the great Visak Bochea (វិសាខបូជា) religious ceremony on Wednesday 22 May 2024. As tradition dictates, the ceremony is scheduled to take place on Mount Preah Reach Troap in Oudong, Kandal province.
Buddhist festival
Visak Bochea, or Magha Bochea, is a Buddhist festival celebrated on the 15th day of the rising moon in the month of Magha. The day of Visak Bochea commemorates the final sermon given by Buddha, in which he evoked the essence of Buddhism and its fundamental principles: to cease doing evil, to do only good and to purify the mind.
“The group that gathered that day, some 2,500 years ago, to listen to Buddha, is sometimes called the ‘Fourth Assembly’ for the following reasons: the 1,250 listeners were all ‘enlightened’, they were ordained by Buddha and came without being summoned, and lastly, it was a full moon evening.”
A tonsure ceremony to celebrate Visak Bochea Day is usually held at the Tep Pranom pagoda in the Angkor Thom area of Siem Reap province. According to the APSARA National Authority, Visak Bochea also aims to contribute to the education, moralisation and promotion of Buddhism for young Cambodians who want to learn the Dharma as part of their Buddhist education.
According to Venerable Lach Leang, deputy head of the monks in Siem Reap town, this preparation ceremony gives young Cambodians the opportunity to show their gratitude to their parents, the king and the country's leaders.
“The next generation of Cambodians must take care of this heritage and perpetuate it,he says.
A holy day
In Buddhism, a full moon day is considered a holy day and would also be an ideal time to repent for one's sins. The historical significance of this day and its conjunction with the full moon on Meak Bochea Day make it a day of penance.
It is usual to do good deeds and remember the teachings of Buddha. To this end, many go to the pagodas, promising to purify their minds, avoid committing sins and adhere to the Buddha's commandments.
Processions
During Meak Bochea, processions take place in which candles, incense sticks and lotus flowers are carried around the temple or pagoda three times. The first time is to honour Buddha himself, the second to honour his teachings (Dharma), and the third to honour monastic life (Sangha).
Celebrating Visak Bochea also means making efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate, such as the elderly, the disabled and the sick. During this celebration, Buddhists distribute gifts to the underprivileged throughout the villages.
Visak Bochea is also a time of joy and happiness, expressed not by indulging in pleasures, but by concentrating on useful activities such as decorating and illuminating temples, and painting and creating scenes from the life of the Buddha.
Also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day, Visak Bochea is a traditional festival observed by Buddhists as well as some Hindus. Many Asian countries associate themselves with this tradition: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Illustrations CG & AKP