Wat Phra Dhammakaya organized the lifetime ordination for 10 ordinands and Vesak lantern lighting and coordinated with over 10 international Buddhist organizations for the arrangement of International Vesak Day’s activities.
On 11 May 2025, Venerable Phrakhrusamu Sanitwong Wuttiwangso, director of Communication Department, Wat Phra Dhammakaya related that Vesak Day is an important day of Buddhism, on which significant events of the Buddha ; his birth / enlightenment / attainment to nirvana, occurred. To express the gratitude to the Buddha for what he taught human beings to be freed from all sufferings, the Buddhists around the world organize activities on Vesak Day to commemorate the Buddha on his abundant virtues and contributions. On 15 December 1999, the United Nations had a resolution to officially announce the full moon day of the sixth lunar month as International Vesak Day.
At Wat Phra Dhammakaya, the morning session was the almsgiving to the monks, followed by mass meditation and food offering to monastic community. The afternoon ceremony was the lifetime ordination for 10 ordinands (10 novices of Pali studies) by the preceptor “Most Venerable Phrapromwachirapanyajarn” (Pali scholar of level 9), abbot of Wat Ratchaorot at the chapel of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. As for the evening session, the temple lighted the lanterns, arranged in the images of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and attainment to complete nirvana and Luang Por Dhattajivo was the monastic chairman. Later, laypeople circumambulated the Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya and celebrated the achievement of 7,357,000,000 rounds of Dhammacakka recited in honor of the Buddha on Vesak Day.
The following are the activities of International Vesak Day, organized in the foreign countries;
- On 12 May 2025, the activity of ground lantern and sky lantern lighting is arranged in honor of the Buddha at Borobudur, Indonesia.
- Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Johannesburg, organized the ceremonies of lantern lighting & forest robe offering on 11 May 2025.
- Wat Phra Dhammakaya, California organized the necessity offering to monastic community and lantern lighting on 11 May 2025.
- On 14 May 2025, The Union of Thai Sanghas in Europe (UTSE) arranges the Vesak Day’s activities at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), Switzerland.
- The International Vesak Day’s activities will be organized at Kolkata on 12 May 2025 and Mumbai on 18 May 2025.
- On 12 May 2025, the Embassy of Nepal in Thailand holds activities on Vesak Day 2025 at Anantra Siam Bangkok Hotel and the monastic communities of all Buddhist denominations in Nepal arranges activities on International Vesak Day at Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal.
- On 11-12 May 2025, Wat Phra Dhammakaya-Singapore organized an activity of necessity offering to monastic community on International Vesak Day.
- On 10 May 2025, Wat Phra Dhammakaya-Hong Kong and other Buddhist organizations celebrated International Vesak Day by releasing fishes in the ocean.
- On 26 April 2025, the mass ordination and Lotus Lantern Festival were organized for International Vesak Festival in Seoul, South Korea.
- On 7-10 May 2025, the Siam-Lanka Dhammayatra Program was arranged for International Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka.
- On 6-8 May 2025, Wat Phra Dhammakaya-Melbourne coordinated with the Buddhists in Victoria to organize VICTORIAN UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK in Melbourne, Australia and the monastic community arranged chanting on 3 May 2025.
- On 19 May 2025, there is a mass meditation session in honor of the Buddha for International Vesak Festival of 3 Buddhist denominations in Taiwan.
