PHNOM PENH: February 16, 2022 marks Meak Bochea Day, otherwise known as 'Magha Puja' or 'Sangha Day' in other parts of the world. This is an important Buddhist festival celebrated in Cambodia and by Buddhists all over the world on the full moon of the third month of the traditional Khmer calendar, to commemorate the day when the Buddha declared the founding of Buddhism in India in 588 BC, just nine months after his enlightenment.

The formation of Buddhism as a religious organization took place among 1,250 monks, all members of a convention that had brought together people from all walks of life. According to traditional Buddhist history, the monks had gathered on this full moon day because it coincided with the day of Shiva in Hinduism. The monks traveled from different locations to see Lord Buddha, with the story being that all 1,250 had arrived separately without a summoning.

Celebrating Meak Bochea Day means that Buddhists:

1. Correctly understood the importance of this day of worship.

2. Understand the principles and positions of Buddhism.

3. Cultivate pure generosity, become more civilized in the principles of Lord Buddha.

4. Perform the role of Buddhists on this day of Meak Bochea.

5. Help Buddhism to be stable for a long time.

Meak Bochea Day is seen to be a day that measure the quality of Buddhists, as well as a day that sees who is still actively practicing Buddhism today, like a mirror illuminating one’s face. It is believed that if you have the status of a Buddhist, this day should be for showing you are not neglecting your duties, and you are trying to encourage active practice of Buddhism and visiting pagodas to make prayers. For Buddhists, active practice of the religion can help to improve one’s quality of life and one's soul and spirit by following Buddhist principles, doing good deeds and cultivating a healthy mind.