Āsāḷha Pūjā

Āsāḷha Pūjā is a Theravada Buddhist observance held on the full moon of the lunar month of Āsāḷha, which usually falls in July. It is often called Dhamma Day in English. It remembers the first teaching the Buddha gave after his awakening.

What it remembers

According to tradition, about two months after his awakening the Buddha walked to the Deer Park at Isipatana, near Vārāṇasī. There he taught five ascetics who had once practised with him. This teaching, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, set out the middle way between indulgence and self-torment, and the Four Noble Truths.

One of the five, Koṇḍañña, understood the teaching while listening and asked to be ordained. With that, the tradition says, all Three Jewels were present for the first time: the Buddha, the Dhamma he taught and the Sangha, the community of his disciples.

The start of the rains

The day after Āsāḷha Pūjā traditionally marks the start of the vassa, the three-month rains residence. During this period, following a practice from the Buddha's time, monks and nuns stay in one monastery rather than travelling. Many lay people also deepen their practice during these months, for example by keeping extra precepts, giving up a habit or meditating more regularly.

In Thailand, the start of the rains is the occasion for offering large candles to monasteries, meant to last through the three months. The rains end with Pavāraṇā, followed by the season of Kathina, when robe cloth is offered to the monastic community.

How the day is observed

Customs vary, but commonly include visiting a monastery, offering food and other requisites to monastics, taking the five or eight precepts, and listening to a talk on the first discourse. Many communities chant the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta together. In the evening, people often walk three times around a shrine or stupa with candles, flowers and incense.

Reflecting on the day

For individuals, Āsāḷha Pūjā is a natural time to read the first discourse and reflect on the Four Noble Truths: understanding suffering, letting go of craving, realising its end and developing the path.