Asalha Puja is one of the most significant observances in the Buddhist calendar, marking the Buddha’s first sermon and the beginning of the annual rains retreat. At Homerly International Senior Living, residents commemorated the occasion through two complementary experiences: a creative workshop held in the days leading up to the holiday, and a candlelit procession at the temple on the evening itself.

A Creative Beginning: Candle Holders Crafted from Recycled Materials

In preparation for Asalha Puja, residents took part in an arts-and-crafts workshop centered on sustainability and craftsmanship. Using recycled plastic bottles as a base, participants shaped, painted, and decorated lotus-inspired candle holders, each finished with pandan leaves and a fresh lotus bud.

The session was structured to support several dimensions of wellbeing:

• Fine motor skill development through cutting, shaping, and detailed decoration.
• Creative expression, as each candle holder reflected its maker’s individual style.
• Cognitive engagement through sequential planning and problem-solving.
• Social connection, as residents and staff collaborated throughout the session.
• Environmental awareness, by repurposing discarded materials into meaningful objects.
• A sense of accomplishment, with residents completing pieces they would later carry to the temple.

An Evening of Reflection: The Candlelit Procession at Wat Krathing Lai

On the evening of Asalha Puja, residents brought their handcrafted candle holders to Wat Krathing Lai to take part in wian tian, the traditional candlelit procession in which devotees walk three times around the temple’s ordination hall in a clockwise direction, holding a candle, incense, and flowers.

Beneath the temple’s white, gold-trimmed architecture and its guardian naga serpents, residents – including several using wheelchairs, accompanied by Homerly’s caregiving staff – joined fellow devotees in the procession. The atmosphere was marked by soft candlelight, quiet chanting, and the scent of incense and fresh flowers. Following the procession, residents placed their lotus buds and flowers at the temple’s offering table, closing the evening with a simple gesture of gratitude.

This experience offered residents direct participation in one of Thailand’s most significant religious observances, rather than an account of it from a distance.

Reflecting Homerly’s Approach to Cultural Engagement

At Homerly, cultural engagement is approached as something to be experienced firsthand. By combining a hands-on preparatory activity with participation in a formal religious observance, residents were given a meaningful and accessible way to engage with Thai Buddhist tradition, regardless of mobility or length of residence in Thailand.

Activities such as this reflect Homerly’s broader commitment to purposeful engagement, cultural inclusion, and a community that accommodates every resident’s ability to participate.