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STORY: 210,000 lanterns illuminate this Thai temple for Vesak Day

Location: Dhammakaya Temple, Thailand

The holiday is one of the most important Buddhist festivals

also known as Buddha Day

[Venerable Phramaha Thossaporn Punyangkuro, Vice Director of Communication Department / Dhammakaya Foundation]

"Today is an important day as it commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and the great decease of the Lord Buddha. To mark this day, the temple has lit 210,000 LED lanterns depicting an image of his birth, enlightenment and death to honor the Lord Buddha."

The festival usually takes place in May

during the first full moon, based on the lunar calendar

and attracts tens of thousands of believers

The lighting of the lanterns is followed by meditation

and prayer in Pali, the language of ancient Buddhist scriptures