« All Events
Asalha Puja is a significant festival in Buddhism that commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his five disciples at Deer Park in Sarnath, (Varanasi) India. The occasion is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Asalha (July), and is also known as Dharma Day.
Asalha Puja marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent period, during which monks and nuns remain in their monasteries to meditate and study the Buddha’s teachings. On this day, devotees offer alms to the monks, recite the Buddha’s teachings, and undertake the Five or Eight Precepts as a way of purifying the mind and body. The festival is an opportunity to reflect on the Buddha’s teachings and the path towards enlightenment.
