The Symmetry and Shapes of Makha Bucha at Wat Dhammakaya

Alan Taylor
March 5, 2015
18 Photos
In Focus

Thousands of Buddhists gathered at Thailand's Wat Dhammakaya on Wednesday to observe Makha Bucha, a religious holiday that marks the anniversary of Buddha's mass sermon to the first 1,250 newly ordained monks 2,558 years ago. The architecture of the temple and the choreography of the ceremonies combine to create stunning visual compositions: images of the thousands of small golden Buddha statues that make up the central dome, the 100,000 lanterns lit up at night, and the thousands of monks and other Buddhist devotees gathered in circles and rows to meditate.

Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

Thai Buddhist monks pray and gather at Wat Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok, to participate in Makha Bucha Day ceremonies on March 4, 2015. #

Sakchai Lalit/AP

Read more
Buddhist monks prepare for an alms offering ceremony at Wat Phra Dhammakaya as the sun rises on Makha Bucha Day, March 4, 2015. #

Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Read more
Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Thailand, as seen from above #

Google, Inc.

Read more
Buddhist devotees meditate during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya on March 4, 2015 on the occasion of Makha Bucha Day. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Buddhist devotees walk with candles during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya on March 4, 2015. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Buddhist devotees meditate during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya on March 4, 2015. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
A dome composed of thousands of small Buddha statues, part of Wat Dhammakaya, photographed on March 4, 2015 #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Thai Buddhist monks pray and gather at Wat Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani province on March 4, 2015. #

Sakchai Lalit/AP

Read more
A closer view of the thousands of small Buddha statues that cover the dome of Wat Dhammakaya, seen on March 4, 2015 #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Buddhist monks walk with candles during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya on March 4, 2015. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Buddhists holding candles encircle a large Buddha statue during Makha Bucha Day at a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok on March 4, 2015. #

Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Read more
Buddhist devotees light candles and pray during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya on March 4, 2015. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Thai Buddhists take part in a candle-lighting ceremony on March 4, 2015 at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Bangkok, Thailand. #

Taylor Weidman/Getty Images

Read more
Buddhist monks pray during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya on March 4, 2015. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more
Buddhist monks prepare for an alms-offering ceremony at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani province on March 4, 2015. #

Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Read more
Two-thousand monks and far more laypeople gather for a candle-lighting ceremony on March 4, 2015 at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Bangkok, Thailand. #

Taylor Weidman/Getty Images

Read more
A long exposure of a procession of laypeople carrying candles during a ceremony on March 4, 2015 at Wat Phra Dhammakaya #

Taylor Weidman/Getty Images

Read more
A Buddhist monk prays during a ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya in Bangkok on March 4, 2015 on the occasion of Makha Bucha Day. #

Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images

Read more