Buddhist organisations from many different countries will be joining to celebrate the United Nations Day of Vesak, which is taking place at Buddhamonthon, Nakorn Pathom from 7-10 May 2006.

Prof. Dr. Phra Dhammakosacara, Rector of Mahachula, said that the forthcoming celebration of the International Day of Vesak under the auspices of the United Nations will place Thailand at the centre of Buddhism.  The celebration will simultaneously be in honour of the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty the King.

At the same time, one of the objectives of celebrating the United Nations Day of Vesak is to promote Buddhamonthon, which is one of the foremost Buddhist centres in Thailand, as a world Buddhist centre.  There are three important tasks:

1. to urge the Government to send their representatives to participate in the celebration, and to request the Government to grant assistance to develop Buddhamonthon;
2. to urge the Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand to agree to develop Buddhamonthon;
3. to persuade the Buddhamonthon administrative committee to agree to develop Buddhamonthon as a world Buddhist centre.

Prof. Dr. Phra Dhammakosacara said that the Day of Vesak celebrations will bring together many Buddhist Nikaya, regardless of their differences.  It will create a better understanding among Buddhist organisations in Thailand and throughout the world.  At the same time, the celebration is intended to encourage people to work for society and to practise the teachings of the Buddha.

The organising committee of United Nations Day of Vesak includes Dr. Phra Khammai Dhammasami, PhD (Oxford), Dr. Phra Dhammaratna from France, Phra Nooy Ven from Cambodia, and many others.