Asalha Puja

Asalha Puja (also known as Asadha Puja or Asanha Bucha in Thailand, Thai: อาสาฬหบูชา) is a Theravada Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the month of Āsādha. It is celebrated in Indonesia, Cambodia (ពិធីបុណ្យអាសាឡ្ហបូជា), Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar and in countries with Theravada Buddhist populations. In Indonesia, the festival is centered at Mendut Temple and Borobudur Temple, Central Java.

Asalha Puja
The sermon in the Deer Park as depicted at Wat Chedi Liam, Thailand
Also called	Dhamma Day Dharma Day Asadha Puja Asanha Bucha (in Thailand) Esala Poya (in Sri Lanka) Dhammasekya Boonsang Day (in Burma)
Observed by	Theravada Buddhists, especially Cambodians, Lao, Burmese, Sri Lankans and Thais
Type	Buddhist
Date	Full moon day of the lunar month Āsādha
2020 date	5 July[1]
Related to	Esala Mangallaya and Kandy Esala Perahera, which are held as part of Asalha Puja celebrations in Sri Lanka Chokor Duchen Festival (in Tibet) Drukpa Tshe Zhi (in Bhutan)

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Asalha Puja, also known as Dhamma Day, is one of Theravada Buddhism's most important festivals, celebrating as it does the Buddha's first sermon in which he set out to his five former associates the doctrine that had come to him following his enlightenment. This first pivotal sermon, often referred to as “setting into motion the wheel of dhamma,” is the teaching which is encapsulated for Buddhists in the four noble truths: there is suffering (dukkha); suffering is caused by craving (tanha); there is a state (nibbana) beyond suffering and craving; and finally, the way to nirvana is via the eightfold path. All the various schools and traditions of Buddhism revolve around the central doctrine of the four noble truths.

This first sermon is not only the first structured discourse given by the Buddha after his enlightenment, it also contains the essence of all his subsequent teaching. At the end of the talk, one of the five participants recounted his understanding of what had been said and asked to be received as a disciple, a request the Buddha granted, thus establishing the first order of monks.

The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons. The following day is known in Thailand as Thai: วันเข้าพรรษา Wan Khao Phansa; it is the first day of Thai: พรรษา vassa, the Theravada rains retreat.