Makha Purami Si Prachin Festival until March 2

On March 1st, Thailand will host one of the most important Buddhist festivals of the year, Makha Bucha Day. Widely celebrated across the country, it is the festival held on several days in Prachinburi province 130 kilometers from Bangkok that is the most famous. Called Makha Purami i Prachin Festival, here is the schedule.

Makha Purami Si Prachin festival in Prachinburi

Combining meditation, hikes, offerings to monks and religious ceremonies, the Makha Purami Si Prachin Festival is held over several days between Wat Bang Khen and Wat Sa Morakot ( “temple of the emerald pond”) temples.

Every day the participants walk from one temple to another, meditate, sleep there, participate in offerings and walk with the monks to the next temple, sleep in the temple and so on day after day.

I imagine that if you want to make the whole pilgrimage, you can join it on any day. Or only attend one day, the most interesting day being Makha Bucha Day which is the penultimate day.

This year the festival will be held from February 22 to March 2, 2018 and will celebrate its 32nd edition.

Schedule of Makha Purami Si Prachin festival

Thursday, February 22, 2018

• from 09:00: Registration at Wat Bang Khen (see map)
• 18:00: evening – meditation
• 8:00 pm: Orientation by Phra Pravit Vuwananuwat Pranao District

Friday, February 23, 2018 (hike in Ban Bueng District)

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 07:00 Food offerings at Wat Bang Khen
• 08:00 Walking, hiking to Wat Bang Toei, Bangyai, Ban Bueng.
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Bang Toei, Bang Huay Tambon, Amphoe Ban Sang.
• 15:00 10-kilometer walking tour to Bang Khen temple, Bang Kraee sub-district. Ban Bueng District (night at the temple)
• 18:00 Ablutions
• 19:00 Evening meditation / listening to the sermon.

Saturday, February 24, 2018 (hike in Ban Bueng District)

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 06:00 Food offerings at Wat Bang Krabao, Tambon Bang Krang. Ban Bueng District
• 07:00 Meal at Wat Bang Krang
• 08:00 Hiking 6 km to Wat Bang Sang,  Ban Bueng Sub-district Ban Bueng District
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Bang Sang,. Ban Bueng District
• 15:00 9 km walk to Wat Pikun, Bang Phlu Tambon, Amphoe Ban Sang (overnight at the temple).
• 18:00 Ablutions
• 19:00 Evening meditation / listening to the sermon.

Sunday, February 25, 2018 (hiking in the District of Ban Chang and Prachin Buri)

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 6:00 Offerings to Wat Pikun Tambon Bang Phlu Amphoe Ban Sang.
• 07:00 Meal at Wat Pikun, Tambon Bang Phlu, Amphoe Ban Sang.
• 08:00 Start of the 10 km walk to Wat Pho temple, Amphoe Mueang Prachin Buri
• 10:30 Food offerings at the temple.
• 15:00 Hiking 9 km to Wat Liap, Amphoe Mueang Prachin Buri (night at the temple)
• 18:00 Ablutions
• 19:00 Evening meditation / listening to the sermon.

Monday, February 26, 2018 (Walk to Prachin Buri and Si Maha Pho)

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 6:00 Offerings to Wat Liap, Amphoe Mueang Prachin Buri.
• 07:00 Meal at Wat Liap, Amphoe Mueang Prachin Buri
• 8:00 Walk for a 7 km hike to Wat Hat Yang, Si Maha Pho.
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Hat Yang, Hat Yang District, Si Maha Pho.
• 15:00 Departure for a 9 km walk to Wat Mai Krong Thong temple (night at the temple)
• 18:00 Ablutions
• 19:00  Evening meditation / listening to the sermon.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 (trek to Sri Maha Phot and Si Mahosot district)

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 06:00 Food offerings at Wat Mai Krong Thong. Si Maha Pho District Sub Si Maha Pho District
• 07:00 Meal at Wat Mai Krong Thong. Si Maha Pho District Sub Si Maha Pho District
• 08:00 Hike 11 km to Wat Ko Samo cemetery, Hua Wa Tambon, Si Maha Pho.
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Ko Samo cemetery, Hua Wa Tambon, Si Maha Pho.
• 15:00 3 km walk to the ruins of Sa Morakot Pool Ancient Pond (overnight at the temple)
• 18:00 – Ablutions
• 19:00  Evening meditation / listening to the sermon.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 07:00 Food offerings at Wat Morakot, Khok Thai Tambon, Si Mahosot District.
• 09:00 Dhamma Dhamma
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Morakot, Khok Thai District, Si Mahosot.
• 13:00 Dhamma Charoenjai
• 18:00 Ablutions
• 19:00 – Evening Meditation / Listen to the Dharma

Thursday, March 1st, 2018

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 07:00 Food offerings at Wat Morakot, Khok Thai Tambon, Si Mahosot District.
• 09:00 Dhamma Dhamma
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Morakot, Khok Thai District, Si Mahosot.
• 13:00 Dhamma Charoenjai
• 18:00 Ablutions
• 18.30 Ceremony around the Buddha footprint
• 19:00 Presentation of the Miracle of Miracles by the monks and a circular ceremony around the footprint.

Friday, March 2, 2018

• 4:00 Wake up
• 5:00 Meditation
• 07:00 Food offerings at Wat Morakot, Khok Thai Tambon, Si Mahosot District.
• 09:00 Dhamma Dhamma
• 10:30 Food offerings at Wat Morakot, Khok Thai District, Si Mahosot.
• 12:30, honored and meditated at the ceremonial area.
• 13:00 Candles and closing ceremony.

It’s translated from the Thai with the help of the questions I asked by phone to the city’s Cultural Office so there may be some inaccuracies in this program.

Map of the temples visited during the festival

Instructions for participating

If you want to participate in ceremonies, you should be dressed in white and in a respectful attire. If you want to go for hikes and spend nights at the temples, you will need to bring mosquito nets, cutlery and plates to eat and a bottle that you can fill with water. And of course, considering the walking and hiking, you have to be in good physical shape.

I am not sure if foreigners can participate but I would be surprised if they refuse but be aware everything will be in Thai. But you can surely attend the various ceremonies.

I have never participated in this festival yet but I must say that a spiritual retreat with hiking and meditating with Buddhists monk is something I am interested in. Maybe next year…

To come to Prachinburi from Bangkok, there are in regular trains (schedules ICI).

For more information, you can call the office of TAT Nakhon Nayok – Tel: 037 312 282.

You will find on the website dates and information about the main festivals in Thailand.