Friday, May 23, 2008

Happy Birthday Buddha

Monday is Visakha Bucha Day celebrating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death. This trifecta of holy holidays is highlighted by the Wien Tien ceremony at local temples, where devoted Buddhists circle the Wats three times honoring Dharma or the Buddha's teaching.

The killing of animals is forbidden during this time.

Thankfully most major supermarkets have already supply of previous slaughtered flesh for consumption, but more troubling for farang tourists and residents is the ban on alcoholic consumption. Being non-Buddhists westerners are exempt from this ruling, however it's more respectful to not be seen staggering around the darkened bars dead drunk, although most people in that state are past caring about local customs.

Bars should be operating as usual, since it's up to the owners whether to remain open for the 3-day period.

Happy Buddha Birthday

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