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Magha Puja Day

Magha Puja Day

Māgha Pūjā, also called Makha Bucha, Sangha Day, Fourfold Assembly Day, or Buddhist All Saints Day, celebrates the gathering that was held between Buddha and his first disciples. 

Buddha went to Rajagaha city where 1250 Arahats,(Enlightened saints) who were the Buddha's disciples, without prior appointment, returned from their wanderings to pay respect to the Buddha. It is believed that he gave his disciples a message, called the "Ovadha Patimokha," and 1,250 of Buddha’s disciples came to see him in the Magaha state capital to pay their respects without being summoned there.

The disciples gathered together to form the "Fourfold Assembly," because they all: (1) were enlightened Arahats-monks, (2) were all appointed by the Buddha, (3) formed the assembly without any planning or being called, (4) came on the full moon of Magha (March).

How to Celebrate Magha Puja Day

Sometimes called Saṅgha Day referring to the Buddhist community, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community that started on this day. Many celebrate by cleaning, arranging their homes for prayer, studying the Ovadha Patimokha, going to temple and having a procession with candles.

 

 

 

Magha Puja Day