Thailand organizes "ASEAN Visakha Bucha" activities 2019

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) - Playing the chairmanship role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Thailand is organizing "ASEAN Visakha Bucha" activities 2019 in 13 border provinces next to neighboring member countries in the ASEAN Community (AC), in parallel with a one-week Buddhism promotional event nationwide during May 12-18. Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha announced the regional Buddhist activities on Tuesday, before chairing the Cabinet's weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House. The prime minister told journalists that the activities marking the Visakha Bucha Day 2019, which exactly falls on May 18, include the mass prayers and the walk with lighted candles in hands around a temple by Buddhist people and others, namely merit making and sermon platforms, as well as exhibitions on the history of the Buddhism. "The Visakha Bucha" activities 2019 are held in Bangkok and all other Thai provinces, with special activities organized in 13 Thai provinces bordering neighboring countries in the ASEAN Community, including Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar", said the Thai premier. According to the Thai leader, top envoys of 12 allied countries are also invited to take part in the mass prayers and the walk with lighted candles in their hands around a temple or a Buddha relic pavilion. The Vesek or Visakha Bucha, which falls on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, is one of the most important Buddhist events as it commemorates three significant incidents happening on the same day, though different years, during the life of the Lord Buddha, including the Lord Buddha's birth, self-enlightenment and passing. (TNA)