Today is Magha Puja, a holiday celebrated in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia on the full moon of the third lunar month every year. According to belief, nine months after he was enlightened more than 2500 years ago, 1,250 followers of Buddha spontaneously gathered in Rajagaha where he lived, without any schedule. Buddha explained the principles of Buddhism to these enlightened people, the Arhantas, under the moonlight in a bamboo grove and ordained them himself. Major Ovadhapatimokha principles simply include avoiding evil deeds, doing good and purifying the mind. Years later Buddha also announced his coming death three months before, again in the fullmoon of Magha.
Normally Koh Phangan is home to a "Fullmoon" party of 20,000-30,000 people every fullmoon, but it's Magha Puja today, therefore the party will not take place today, but tomorrow. So it's a quite rare, silent and exquisite fullmoon tonight.
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