A temple near Bangkok was lit up with 100,000 candles in celebration of one of the most important Buddhist holidays.
Thousands of monks and worshippers from across Asia came together at Dhammakaya temple on Monday. They offered prayers and did walking meditation to mark Makha Bucha Day. Buddhists believe 1,250 disciples gathered in front of the Buddha without being summoned on that day over 2,500 years ago.
The event was fully opened to worshipers for the first time in three years, after it was held online during the pandemic.
A female devotee said, "It made me feel nostalgic to light a candle again, and see other devotees light theirs in different places. We can't walk, see or experience this atmosphere virtually."
A monk at the temple said that he and his fellow devotees want to continue honoring the Buddha by passing down the tradition.