Abhidhamma Day: Good deeds on full moon day of Thadingyut

Buddhists across Myanmar are also making good deeds during the Thadingyut Festival. This year, Abhidhamma Day, the full moon day of Thadingyut falls on the 9th of October.

Devotees offer flowers, water and candle lights to the Lord Buddha and share the merits gained. Thadingyut festival is the celebration to welcome the Lord Buddha’s descent from the heaven after he preached the Abhidhamma to his mother, Maya, who was reborn in the heaven.

Thadingyut, the seventh month of the Myanmar calendar, is the end of the Buddhist sabbath. Thadingyut festival lasts for three days: the day before the full moon day, the full moon day (when Buddha descends from heaven) and the day after the full moon day.

In order to show the gratitude for motherhood, Buddha preached Abhidhamma to that deva who was his mother for three Lenten months. Buddhists celebrate Thadingyut to welcome the Buddha and his disciples by enlightening and festooning the streets, houses and public buildings with colored electric bulbs or candles.

During the festival days, Buddhists usually go to pagodas and monasteries to pay homage to Triple Gems, paying respect to the monks and offer foods. And, some Buddhists usually fast on the full moon day. Young people usually pay respects to their parents, teachers, and elderly relatives and offer them some fruits and other gifts.

Also while paying homage the younger people usually ask for forgiveness from the wrong-doings they have caused upon their parents or the other elderly relatives throughout the year. Traditionally, the elders tell their youngsters that they forgive any of their wrongdoings and continue to bless them with good luck. It is also usual for younger siblings to pay homage to their older siblings. In return, the elder ones wish good luck for them.