Thailand observes Buddhist Lent

BANGKOK, August 3 (TNA) - Buddhists crowded temples across Thailand for merit makings marking the annual three-month Buddhist Lent, which starts Friday. In Bangkok, a number of Buddhists offered alms and made donations at Rama IX Kanchanaphisek Temple, for example, despite downpours. The temple's abbot told the Buddhists to follow five basic Buddhist precepts and be reasonable for their thought, speech and perception. In the northern resort Chiang Mai province, Thai and foreign Buddhists gathered at Phrasing Rajaworawihan Temple in the provincial heart to donate and make Buddhist Lent candles. Crowds of people were also present at Phrathat Hariphunchai Woramahawihan Temple in nearby northern Lamphun province for similar activities, including candle-lit processions around the main pagoda of the temple to pray for their good luck. In the northeastern Surin province, Buddhist monks from 13 local temples gathered at Salaloi Temple to receive alms, as people were advised to donate dried food and necessities the monks and novices can consume and use during the Buddhist Lent. In Nakhon Phanom province, also in the Thai Northeast, local people and tourists gathered at well-known temples, including Phrathat Phanom Woramahawihan and Thatsrikhun Temples in Nakae District, where they participated in ceremonial processions around main pagodas to deliver Buddhist Lent candles. In the central Ang Thong province, white-clad Buddhists, including teenagers, crowded Losutrawat Temple in Muang district to donate Buddhist Lent candles and monks’ necessities. In the southern Songkhla province, a number of people gave alms to Buddhist monks in the Muang municipality, as local authorities even invited monks from outskirts to receive the alms in the center of the province, where there were not enough monks. (TNA)