Magha Puja (Fourfold Assembly Day)
Commemorating the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 enlightened monks to hear the Buddha teach.
Magha Puja falls on the full moon of the third lunar month in the Thai and related Theravada calendars, usually in February or early March. In years with an extra lunar month it moves to the following full moon, in March.
When Is Magha Puja (Fourfold Assembly Day)?
Magha Puja falls on the full moon of the third lunar month in the Thai and related Theravada calendars, usually in February or early March. In years with an extra lunar month it moves to the following full moon, in March.
Because the Gregorian date changes from year to year, check a calendar published by the tradition or your local community for this year's date.
Why It Matters
Magha Puja commemorates the occasion when, according to tradition, 1,250 enlightened monks spontaneously gathered, without prior arrangement, to hear the Buddha deliver his first summary of the entire Buddhist teaching: the Ovada-Patimokkha.
How It Is Observed
Temple ceremonies, candlelit processions walking three times around the temple holding flowers, incense, and candles. Listening to teachings, meditation, dana (giving), observing the five precepts.
Sacred Text
“Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify the mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas.”
, Dhammapada 183 ↗