About the Event
The Magha Puja Alms-Round is a sacred ceremony where community members offer food and necessities to monks, commemorating the Buddha's teachings on this holy day. The event typically begins with morning alms-giving, followed by precept-taking, meditation, Dhamma talks focusing on the principles outlined in the Ovadapatimokkha, and often concludes with a candlelit circumambulation (wien tien) around the temple. This day emphasizes reflection on the core Buddhist principles and the importance of the monastic community as carriers of the Buddha's teachings.
Requirements
- Arrive by 09:00 AM to prepare offerings for the alms-round
- Dress in white or light-colored modest clothing if possible (shoulders and knees covered)
- Remove shoes before approaching monks or entering temple buildings
- Women should place offerings in the monks' bowls without direct physical contact
- Maintain a respectful, quiet demeanor throughout all ceremonies
- Appropriate offerings include: rice, fresh fruits, packaged foods, juice, candles, incense, and other non-perishable items
- Participants are encouraged to observe the Eight Precepts for the day if possible
- Those joining the evening circumambulation should bring three incense sticks, one candle, and flowers for the ceremony
All community members and visitors are welcome to participate in this profound celebration that connects us to the historical Buddha and his timeless teachings.
History of the Event
Magha Puja (also spelled Makha Bucha) commemorates one of Buddhism's most significant historical events, the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 enlightened disciples (arhats) to hear the Buddha at Veluvana Bamboo Grove. This occurred on the full moon day of the third lunar month, approximately nine months after the Buddha began his teaching mission. During this assembly, the Buddha delivered the "Ovadapatimokkha," outlining the core principles of Buddhism: to cease from all evil, to do good, and to purify the mind. Magha Puja honors this "Fourfold Assembly" where all disciples came without summons, all were enlightened, and all had been personally ordained by the Buddha.