As the old year draws to a close, Wat Phra Dhammakaya welcomes the new year with the New Year Dhutanga (Thudong) Pilgrimage and a merit-making meditation retreat across midnight (Kham Pee). It is a beautiful way to begin each new year with blessings and a mind of peace.
The New Year Thudong
This is a long-standing tradition of the temple: a procession of monks walking in Dhutanga practice greets the new year, inviting Buddhists to rise early, offer alms, and meditate together until the dawn of the new year.
Key activities
- Year-end alms-giving and New Year early-morning alms
- Cross-midnight meditation retreat
- Year-end Dhamma talks by the senior monks
- Lantern lighting and chanting into the new year
Why begin the year with merit?
Buddhists believe that starting the new year with generosity (dana), virtue (sila), and meditation (bhavana) plants seeds of happiness that ripen all year long. Offering food to the Sangha on the first days of the year is considered especially auspicious.
How to join — On-site and Online
- On-site: Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Khlong Sam, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120. The temple opens its grounds for the overnight retreat.
- Online: Meditate and make merit via Line OA “@dhammakaya” or watch the live broadcast on the temple’s Facebook page and DMC channel.
Prepare your merit journey
Until the new year arrives, there are still many meritorious celebrations ahead. Explore the Dhammakaya Merit Calendar and learn how the year opens with the Dhammayatra Pilgrimage.
