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The celebration of 2500 years of Buddhism
at Wat Asokaram, Bangkok in 1957
Venerable Father (Than Phor) Lee Dhammadharo
The Sala at Wat Asokaram
2500 years of Buddhism festival notes (by Than Phor Lee)
Than Phor Lee had been considering holding a festival to mark this event for many years.
Having some doubts, he asked that a deity would come to advise him about the festival.
A deity then visited and told him that he had to hold the festival, and that it would certainly be a success.
(The Monastery gate)
Around a year in advance, Than Phor decided to hold the festival at Wat Asok. And started making plans.
Plans were made to ordain 320 monks, novices and nuns etc. for at least the 7 days of the festival.
In total over 2,400 were finally ordained, including 637 monks.
(Kutis (huts) for monks)
Over 1.1m Buddha amulets, made from clay and fragments of Buddhist relics,
were made and given free to visitors.
(Preparing the food)
A chedi was also built for the occasion, to enshrine Buddha relics and images.
Than Phor dreamed that in a past life he had planned to help build a chedi,
but never managed to. Therefore he decided to build one for the festival.
The daily festival schedule included; chanting, sitting meditation,
listening to sermons & candlelight processions.
Mahayana Buddhist services were also held to make merit for the dead.
There weren't any roads, so for the ordination, boats to Bangkok temples were used
For the celebration the monks, novices, laypeople,
government, police and soldiers worked hand in hand
to prepare and secure this huge event.
Than Phor Lee gives a talk on Dhamma
4 Bodhi trees, descended from the Great Bodhi Tree in India,
were offered and planted at Wat Asok. for the festival.
Monks on the way to the celebration
to receive offerings and relics, and to chant
Than Phor Lee makes holy water
and blesses all the people attending with it
The festive procession leaving Wat Asokaram
to go through Bangkok
The festive procession carried Buddha relics, images and money trees
to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.
Wat Phra Gaew in Bangkok
Voluntary work done for the monastery
including planting trees
Somdet Phra Maha Virawong arrives
in future he will be the supreme Patriarch
Than Phor Lee and the other monks
going on almsround
Food was offered to the monks and novices for the 7 days of the festival and for 2 weeks after.
Than Phor only had 200 Baht to finance the festival,
but in the end over 800,000 Baht was donated without any requests for money.
In total, laypeople and monks who joined in the festival, came from 45 provinces.
Food is eaten from one's almsbowl
Than Phor Lee gives a talk on Dhamma
Laypeople help to build roads
or help with other kinds of work
-The End-