On 31 May 2026, Venerable Phrakhrusamu Sanitwong Wuttiwangso, director of Communication Department and assistant abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya related that Vesak Day is an important day of Buddhism, marking the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and attainment to complete nirvana. This day is officially recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Vesak on 15 December 1999 and all Buddhists throughout the world organized activities to commemorate the great compassion of the Buddha.
At Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani province, over 10,000 Buddhists jointly offered alms to the monks, practiced meditation and offered food to the monastic community in the morning. The afternoon session was the lifetime ordination ceremony for 19 ordinands at the main chapel of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. The preceptor was Most Venerable Phrapromwachirapanyajarn (Pali scholar of level 9), the abbot of Wat Ratcha Orasaram Ratchaworawiharn. In the evening, there was the lighting of lanterns, arranged in the images of the significant events of the Buddha: his birth, enlightenment, and attainment to nirvana at the ground of Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya, followed by the circumambulation of the cetiya and the celebration for achieving 8,415,000,000 rounds of Dhammacakka recited in honor of the Buddha on Vesak Day.
In foreign countries, the monastic representatives of Wat Phra Dhammakaya branches across 5 continents attended the Vesak Festival of international Buddhist communities from 15 countries (including the USA, Singapore, South Africa, Indonesia, Nepal, Switzerland, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, Sri Lanka, China, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Italy) and took part in their activities to honor the Buddha. The celebration of Vesak Day is not only a core part of Buddhist culture but also the promotion of global peace through the Buddha’s teachings.
