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Vessantara Jātaka

The ''Vessantara Jataka'' is celebrated in temples during a Buddhist festival known as ''Thet Mahachat'' (), from ''Maha Jati'' or "Great Birth", in Central Thailand, ''Boun Pha Vet'' in Laos and as ''Bun Phawet'' (Bun Phra Wes), ''Bun Duan Sii'' ('Merit-making of the fourth month') or ''Thet Phawet'' in Isan. It is also an important celebration in Cambodia, Burma and Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka, verses of lament from the text ''Vessantara Kāvya'' are often recited at the corpse of a relative who just died, especially the verses of Madri mourning the loss of her children. This text was composed in Sri Lanka in the early modern period by a secular poet, and emphasizes abandonment and emotional desolation. The themes were very popular among the ordinary people, though the emphasis was very different than the earlier Buddhist texts.

The ''Thet Mahachat'' is very popular both in rural and urban communities, often with dance and drama performances, as well as festive parades and processions through the towns. During this Buddhist festival the monks give a sermon about the entire text of the Vessantara Jataka, accompanied by rituals and cultural performances. Because of its central role in the ''Thet Mahachat'' or ''Boun Pha Vet'' celebrations, the Vessantara Jataka is an important part of the traditional folklore in many areas of the Southeast Asian region. Some of the scenes, especially the mismatched couple formed by Jujaka, the old Brahmin, and his young wife Amittada, are attractive for the public during the festival. While it has lost its traditional importance in some areas, in others it has gained in popularity.

Scenes of the Vessantara Jataka are found depicted on the walls of Buddhist temples throughout Southeast Asia. They are also engraved on the murals of Angkor Wat, Cambodia, and depicted in ancient patterns on ikat silk cloth. Provided by Wikipedia