Thousands of Buddhist monks gathered at the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok on 11 February to participate in a beautiful candlelit ceremony marking Makha Bucha Day.
The festival, which falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month, commemorates a day when 1,250 monks gathered to be ordained by the Buddha and is seen as a celebration of his teachings. IBTimesUK presents some of the best photos of the festival, taken by AFP photographer Lillian Suwanrumpha:
Buddhist monks find a place to sit before morning prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist monks find a place to sit before morning prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist monks attend morning prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist monks descend from the dome after prayers to receive alms to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist monks attend morning prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPNovice Buddhist monks line up to receive alms to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist devotees take part in evening prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist devotees take part in a candlelight procession to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist monks find a place to sit before morning prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPBuddhist monks rearrange their seats during evening prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFPYoung Buddhist devotees have their picture taken during evening prayers to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFP
Thousands of Buddhist devotees take part in evening prayers by candlelight to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Dhammakaya templeLillian Suwanrumpha/AFP
