Images capture 1,250 Buddhist monks congregating for hushed annual prayer and ceremony in Thailand

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Stunning images captured the thousands of Buddhists months who gathered to pray in silence in celebration of Makha Bucha Day



Makha Bucha is one of the most important holidays in the Thai calendar and is finalised with a haunting candlelight ceremony where visitors sit kneeled on the floor as they pray

By Rachael Burford For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 21:17 EST, 11 February 2017 | UPDATED: 05:59 EST, 12 February 2017

Stunning images captured the thousands of Buddhist monks who gathered to pray in silence in celebration of Makha Bucha Day.

Devotees donned traditional orange dress when they gathered outside the colossal 1,000 acre Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple in the north of Bangkok on February 11 for the annual festival.

Makha Bucha Day is held in celebration of the god Buddha's teachings and takes place in the third lunar month of the Buddhist calendar.

This year 1250 monks gathered to be 'ordained by the Buddha' and take part in the festivities.

Makha Bucha is one of the most important holidays in the Thai calendar and is finalised with a haunting candlelight ceremony where visitors sit kneeled on the floor as they pray.



Wat Phra Dhammakaya IS colossal 1,000 acre temple that was founded in 1970 by Maechi (nun) Chandra Khonnokyoong and Luang Por Dhammajayo



Makha Bucha Day is held in celebration of the god Buddha's teachings and takes place in the third lunar month of the Buddhist calendar

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4216166/Buddhist-monks-congregate-prayer-light-ceremony.html