BANGKOK, Jan 2 (TNA) – About 21.9 million Buddhists participated in the crossover night to the year 2019 prayer sessions throughout the world, up 6.19 per cent from the previous year, said Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat.
He said the Department of Religious Affairs and the National Statistical Office reported that the crossover night prayers were held on Dec 31 at 36,559 temples and other venues worldwide.
The mass prayers to usher in the New Year were organized at 457 temples in Bangkok, 32,447 temples in the provinces, 544 temples overseas, and 3,111 religious places and other venues.
In Thailand, the crossover night prayers was held in 2005 for the first time to make merit for His Majesty the King, late kings and the royal family.
The event is considered the religious countdown to bring good luck for the people and the country in the new year.
Buddhist temples overseas, which organized prayer service to cross over the night to the year 2019 included Vihara Buddha Metta Arama and Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, Pha That Luang Temple in Laos, Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar, and Bodh Gaya in India, the Royal Thai monastery in Lumbini, Nepal. (TNA)
