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MILLIONS of Buddhists across ASEAN are celebrating Wesak Day this week, a sacred occasion marking the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha — observed on the full moon of the lunar month.
Known by various names across the region, Wesak is honoured as Wesak Bochea Day in Cambodia, Waisak in Indonesia, Vixakha Boucha in Laos, Kasong in Myanmar, and Phat Dan in Vietnam. In Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, the festival is commonly referred to as Wesak or Visaka Bucha.
The ASEAN Secretariat extended its greetings via Facebook, stating: “We extend our warm wishes to our Buddhist friends on this joyous and peaceful Wesak Day.”
Bernama cited today that in Cambodia, where the day is officially recognised as Buddha Day, thousands of devotees flocked to pagodas to offer prayers, chant sacred texts, and pay homage to monks. The national celebration this year was presided over by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha.
Senate President Hun Sen also took to social media, offering well-wishes to all Cambodians and Buddhists. “Happy Visak Bochea Day. Visak Bochea is the most important religious festival among other religions. Wish fellow countrymen and Buddhists all over the country to have prosperity and five kinds of Buddha's blessings,” he posted.
In keeping with tradition, the Cambodian government granted sentence reductions for 296 prisoners, including 28 women, with jail terms cut by three to twelve months. Royal pardons and sentence remissions are often given during major Buddhist festivals in the country.
Elsewhere in the region, Buddhist communities in Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam are marking Wesak Day on Monday with ceremonies that include meditation, temple visits and charitable acts.
The celebration serves not only as a moment for spiritual reflection but also as a powerful reminder of compassion and the enduring influence of Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia. - May 11, 2025
