Thailand
Makha Bucha 2027: 21 February, candlelit walks around temple stupas across Thailand
At a glance
- Dates
- Next: 21 February 2027
- Where
- Temples nationwide; busiest at major temples in Bangkok and provinces
- Getting there
- Walk or take a short ride to a large temple near your lodging
- Cost
- No fee to join; candles, incense and flowers by donation
- Limits
- No alcohol sales that day; cover shoulders and knees in temples
The 2026 edition has passed
Dates last checked: 13 October 2026
The festival
1,250 monks at the Bamboo Grove
Makha is the Pali month name Magha, the third month of the Thai lunar calendar, and bucha means homage. The festival falls on that month's full moon, which in 2026 came on 3 March.
It commemorates a gathering recorded in the Buddhist scriptures. On the same day, 1,250 monks arrived at the Veluvana monastery in Rajagaha without being summoned. Every one of them had been ordained by the Buddha himself and had reached arahantship. That night the Buddha gave them the Ovada Patimokkha, summed up in three lines: do no evil, do good, purify the mind.
Thai temples mark the night with a walk around the stupa. The three circuits honour the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, and the line moves clockwise so the stupa stays on the right. The daytime is for giving alms, hearing sermons and keeping the eight precepts.
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Details
The candlelit walk starts after dark at temples across the country, and alcohol sales are banned by law on the day. In 2027 it falls on a Sunday, with the Monday after as the substitute holiday.
Date and the Thai lunar calendar
The 2026 edition took place on 3 March. In 2027 Makha Bucha falls on Sunday 21 February, and the Bank of Thailand's holiday list makes Monday 22 February the day off in lieu.
The date follows the full moon of the third Thai lunar month. Because the Thai lunar calendar tracks the moon, the Western date moves every year, roughly between February and March, so do not reuse last year's date.
Which temple to go to
Makha Bucha is observed nationwide, so temples large and small hold the candle walk after dark and there is no need to travel far. Major temples draw longer lines, while neighbourhood temples are smaller and slower. Either works.
When the candle walk begins
The walk happens after dark, on foot and holding a lit candle the whole way. There is nowhere to sit, the line is almost silent, and temples expect modest dress. Children need an adult to hold their candle steady.
Where to stay, getting there and costs
Stay near a large temple and walk or take a short ride there after dark.
The walk is free. Candles, incense and flowers are usually available at the temple gate in exchange for a donation. Keep the evening free so you have time for all three circuits.
How the wian tian walk works
Light your candle after dark, take the incense and flowers, and join the line as it walks three times clockwise around the stupa or ordination hall, keeping the stupa on your right. Many people recite chants quietly as they go.
After the third circuit, set your candle in the stand in front of the stupa and place the incense and flowers where indicated. That completes the rite.
What to wear and temple etiquette
Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off before entering a hall. Nobody talks in the line, so skip the flash and never walk against the flow.
There is often a breeze at night. Hold the candle upright so wax does not drip on you or the person in front.
Crowds and timing
Temples hold alms-giving and sermons in the daytime, and the walk is concentrated after dark. Large temples usually draw more people than neighbourhood ones.
Arrive a little early to pick up a candle, incense and flowers and see where the line starts before joining.
Two more Buddhist holy days with the same walk
After Makha Bucha, Thailand has two more holy days with candle walks at temples and the same ban on alcohol sales. Visakha Bucha falls on 20 May 2027, and Asanha Bucha on Sunday 18 July, with Monday 19 July as the substitute holiday in the Bank of Thailand's list.
Good to know
- Place
- Temples across Thailand take part, and the major temples in Bangkok and the provincial capitals draw the biggest crowds
- Rite
- Wian tian: after dark, people carry a candle, incense and flowers three times around the stupa or ordination hall
- Origin
- Commemorates 1,250 arahants, all ordained by the Buddha himself, who gathered at the Veluvana monastery in Rajagaha without being summoned
- Alcohol
- Alcohol sales are banned on the day under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. The 2026 exceptions were international airport terminals, hotels and licensed entertainment venues
FAQ
4
What is the main ritual of Makha Bucha?
The walk known as wian tian. After dark, people carry a candle, incense and flowers three times clockwise around the stupa or ordination hall in homage to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.
Where to join the Makha Bucha candle walk?
At temples all over Thailand. Pick a large temple near where you are staying and go after dark.
Can tourists join the candle walk?
Yes. Temples do not limit the walk to worshippers. Cover your shoulders and knees, walk in the same direction and at the same pace as everyone else, and keep quiet.
Is alcohol sold on Makha Bucha?
No, with exceptions. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act bans alcohol sales on Makha Bucha. In 2026 the exceptions were international airport terminals, hotels, licensed entertainment venues and qualifying bars in tourist zones. Breaking the ban can mean up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 10,000 baht.
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