Magha is the third lunar month of the old Indian calendar.
It usually falls somewhere toward the end of February or end of March. Magha Puja Day is considered one of the most important Buddhist celebrations. It commemorates the day on which Buddha recited the “Ovadha Patimokkha” (the Fundamental Teaching) to his disciples. The origins of this festival tell the story of a spontaneous gathering of 1250 fully enlightened monks, who came from separate parts of the countryside,. They had all quite independently decided to go and visit the Buddha and assembled on the full moon day of Magha in the Bamboo Grove at Rajagaha where the Buddha was living. All of these monks were disciples of the Buddha – having been ordained by him. It wa at this time that the Buddha declared that he would pass away in three months time.