Buddhists mark a spiritual weekend

Buddhists from around the world are commemorating a spiritual weekend of Asalha Puja Day and the Buddhist Lent across Thailand, according to Thai News Agency on Friday. In Bangkok, the Department of Buddhist Affairs, under the Culture Ministry, has organized activities at Wat Saket or the Golden Mount Temple from July 13-15 to mark the two occasions. Some feature activities include a ceremony to enshrine the world's oldest Buddhist scriptures recovered from Afghanistan, as well as traditional candle processions this evening to mark Asalha Puja Day. Falling on June 15 this year, Asalha Puja was known as the day when the Buddha gave his first sermon, and precedes the start of the three-month Buddhist Lent.