Uposatha Observance Days

For monastics, these are often days of more intensive reflection and meditation. In many monasteries physical labor (construction projects, repairs, etc.) is curtailed. On New Moon and Full Moon days the fortnightly confession and recitation of the Patimokkha (monastic rules of conduct) takes place.

Lay people observe the eight precepts on Uposatha days, as a support for meditation practice and as a way to re-energize commitment to the Dhamma. Whenever possible, lay people use these days as an opportunity to visit the local monastery, in order to make special offerings to the Sangha, to listen to Dhamma, and to practice meditation with Dhamma companions late into the night. For laity not closely affiliated with a local monastery, it can simply be an opportunity to increase one's efforts in meditation while drawing on the invisible support of millions of other practicing Buddhists around the world.

The calendar of Uposatha days is calculated using a complicated traditional formula that is loosely based on the astronomical (lunar) calendar, with the result that the dates do not always coincide with the actual astronomical dates. To further confuse matters, each sect within Theravada Buddhism tends to follow its own calendar.

The calendar below lists the Uposatha days that will be observed in the coming year by followers of the two sects of Thai Buddhism, Dhammayutika and Mahanikaya.

2002 Uposatha observance days
Last Quarter ("half moon")	New Moon	First Quarter ("half moon")	Full Moon
Jan 6	Jan 13	Jan 21	Jan 28
Feb 5	Feb 12*	Feb 20*	Feb 26 Magha Puja
Mar 6	Mar 13	Mar 21	Mar 28
Apr 5	Apr 12*	Apr 20*	Apr 27*
May 5*	May 11	May 19	May 26 Visakha Puja
Jun 3	Jun 10*	Jun 18*	Jun 25*
Jul 3*	Jul 9	Jul 17	Jul 24 Asalha Puja
Aug 1	Aug 8	Aug 16	Aug 23
Aug 31	Sep 6	Sep 14	Sep 21
Sep 29	Oct 6	Oct 14	Oct 21 Pavarana Day
Oct 29	Nov 4	Nov 12	Nov 19 Anapanasati Day
Nov 27	Dec 4	Dec 12	Dec 19
Dec 27

* On dates marked with an asterisk, followers of the Mahanikaya sect observe the Uposatha the preceding day.

 
• Magha Puja (February 26, 2002) -- "Sangha Day".

This commemorates the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 arahants in the Buddha's presence. One thousand of the gathered monks had previously achieved Awakening upon hearing the Buddha's delivery of the Fire Sermon; the remaining 250 were followers of the elder monks Ven. Moggallana and Ven. Sariputta. To mark this auspicious gathering, the Buddha delivered the Ovada-Patimokkha Gatha, or Patimokkha Exhortation -- a summary of the main points of the Dhamma -- which the Buddha gave to the assembly before sending them out to proclaim the doctrine.
 
 
• Visakha Puja (Vesak) (May 26, 2002) -- "Buddha Day".

This day commemorates three events in the Buddha's life that each took place on this full-moon day: his birth, Awakening, and final Unbinding (parinibbana).
 
 
• Asalha Puja (July 24, 2002) -- "Dhamma Day".

This commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, which he gave to the group of five monks with whom he had practiced in the forest for many years. Upon hearing this discourse, one of the monks -- Ven. Kondañña -- gained his first glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. The annual Rains retreat (vassa) begins the following day.
 
 
• Pavarana Day (October 21, 2002).

This day marks the end of the Rains retreat (vassa). In the following month, the kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.
 
 
• Anapanasati Day (November 19, 2002).

At the end of one rains retreat (vassa), the Buddha was so pleased with the progress of the assembled monks that he encouraged them to extend their retreat for yet another month. On the full-moon day marking the end of that fourth month of retreat, he presented his now-famous instructions on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati), which may be found in the Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118) -- The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing.

See also:

• Muluposatha Sutta (AN III.71) -- Discourse on the Roots of the Uposatha
• Uposatha Sutta (AN VIII.41) -- Discourse on the Uposatha Observance
• Visakhuposatha Sutta (AN VIII.43) -- Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha
• Sakya Sutta (AN X.47) -- To the Sakyans (on the Uposatha)
• Ñanavara Thera's Questions-and-answers concerning the Uposatha.
• Lay Buddhist Practice, by Bhikkhu Khantipalo (BPS Wheel Publication No. 206).
• "Visakha Puja," by Ajaan Lee.