Thailand —
Thailand is hosting a ceremony commemorating Vesak, or Visakha Bucha Day at the beginning of next month with more than 3,500 monks from 50 countries set to participate in the two-day celebration.
According to the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT), the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand has announced that the Vesak celebrations will be officially held on June 1st-2nd, 2023. The 18th edition of the event will be jointly organized by Maha Chulalongkorn Raja Vidyalaya University, the Sangha Supreme Council, and the Thai government.
The event will commence on June 1st and last till June 5th, with the opening ceremony presided by the Supreme Patriarch Ariyavongsagatanana followed by seminars at Maha Chulalongkorn Raja Vidyalaya University in the afternoon. On June 2nd, Buddhist monks and devotees will gather at the United Nations headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Road for a ceremony led by the president of the Privy Council, Gen Surayud Chulanont. Attendees can take part in prayers at Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom province as well.
Permanent Secretary for Interior Suttipong Juljarern stated that the Interior Ministry will notify governors across Thailand to raise the national flag along with the Buddhist flag in order to promote Vesak Day. He also encourages Thai Buddhists to participate in merit-making activities from June 1st-7th and refrain from gambling during that period.
The Pattaya News notes that an alcohol sale ban and closure of entertainment venues will be enforced nationwide to respect the sacred ceremony during the event period on the actual Vesak day, June 3rd, Saturday, for 24 hours from Friday Night to Saturday/Sunday morning at Midnight.
This means that alcohol sales and bars will close all day on the 3rd of June for 24 hours and, yes, this will affect both Friday and Saturday night next weekend. Some venues, however, may choose to open before the closure on Friday and some may choose to open after the closure ends on Sunday Morning after Midnight Saturday.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for a different and delicious way to enjoy the next weekend, we invite you to head to Central Pattaya Shopping Mall to attend the Sea Bear x Central Pattaya food festival!
From June 1st to the 7th, there will be a food festivity at Central Pattaya mall that offers all types of delectable Thai cuisines from around the Kingdom. The fair will take place on the G floor of the mall at the beach side during the day time.
Best of all, Sea Bear, a Thai renowned foodie and influencer on Facebook with over 1.8 million followers, will be present at the event to exclusively meet with fans and visitors. She is known for her passion for food and ability to share her culinary experiences with her followers in the most mouth-watering ways.
So, if you want to celebrate the upcoming week in your own way, you might want to give this event a try!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and get all our news delivered to you in one spam-free daily e-mail Click here! OR, enter your e-mail below!