LAMPANG – Revelers witnessed a beautiful sight that some had been waiting for for an entire year. The arrival of the vernal equinox. The morning sun sent a straight beam of light through the temple archway and onto the main Buddha image at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang.
Early on March 20, 2026, Phra Khru Phithan Noppakit, the abbot of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, joined a group of visitors inside the main viharn of the royal temple in Ko Kha district, Lampang.
Many arrived as early as 5:30 a.m. to watch the first light of the day during the equinox, when day and night are nearly equal in length.
At 6:22 a.m., the sun began to rise from the eastern horizon, directly in front of the temple. Because the archway stands in line with the main hall, the orange-red sunlight slowly moved upward and passed through the khong gate in a straight line.
It then reached the principal Buddha statue inside the Luang Viharn, which faces the front of the temple. The result was a striking view that drew the attention of everyone present.
This event happens on the equinox, when the sun aligns with the Earth in a way that makes daytime and nighttime nearly the same length. There are only two such days each year, the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox. During the rainy season, however, cloud cover often blocks the view.
In Lampang, this rare sunlight alignment can be seen at three temples on three different days. Wat Lai Hin showed the phenomenon on March 19. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang followed on March 20, and its special feature is the temple layout, which faces exactly east. The final viewing takes place on March 21 at Wat Phra That Sadet.
For travelers and locals alike, this short moment is one of Lampang’s most memorable natural and spiritual sights. The light, the temple design, and the timing come together only briefly, which makes the experience even more special.
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