Magha Puja 2028: Date, History & Significance

The day is kept with morning almsgiving to monks, the taking of precepts, meditation, listening to Dhamma, and in the evening a candlelit circumambulation of the shrine or stupa (wian tian) three times, for the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. It is one of the most important days of the Theravada year in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Nine months after the awakening, on the Magha full moon, four things coincided at the Veluvana bamboo grove near Rajagaha: 1,250 monks gathered without prior arrangement; all were arahants (fully enlightened); all had been ordained by the Buddha with the words 'Come, monk'; and the moon was full in the month of Magha. To this assembly the Buddha gave the heart of his teaching in a few verses — the 'Fourfold Assembly Day'.

Source: The scriptures and calendar of the tradition; community religious practice in India

Magha Puja was revived as a formal observance in Thailand in the nineteenth century under King Rama IV and spread across the Theravada world; in India it is kept by Buddhist communities, especially at Rajgir and among the Ambedkarite Buddhists. It is not a national holiday.

• Wikipedia

1. Magha Puja recalls the day 1,250 arahants gathered unannounced before the Buddha at the Veluvana grove, and he taught them the Ovada Patimokkha, the core of his teaching.
2. At the vihara, devotees offer dana, take the precepts and hear a sermon; at dusk they walk three times around the stupa with candles, flowers and incense (wian tian).
3. It is a major day in Theravada countries and among Buddhist communities in India.

• Rajgir (Veluvana), and Buddhist communities in India. Almsgiving, precepts, meditation and Dhamma talks, and the evening threefold candlelit circumambulation of the stupa.

• Dana food — Food offered to the monks before noon and shared among the congregation.

Magha Puja is kept on the day when Purnima of Magha Shukla paksha prevails at sunrise. That day is Thursday, 10 February 2028. Purnima holds at sunrise only on this day.

at sunrise

The full moon of Magha (February–March). The Theravada Buddhist observances follow the full moon (poya) of the lunar month.

A lunar date: Purnima of the bright half of Magha drifts about 11 days earlier each solar year, then jumps back ~19 days when a leap (Adhika) month is inserted.