An important festival spanning a three-month period, Vassa incorporates intensive meditation by monks, who are obliged to remain in their temple or monastery and the surrounding areas for the duration.
Beginning on the first day of the waning moon in the eighth lunar month, Vassa concludes with celebrations for the festival Kathina, during which monks are revered and thanked by their local communities, who bring donations and clothing.
This year, Vassa begins on July 19th and culminates in October. Read on to learn more about this important cultural event and what you can expect to see if you’ll be volunteering in Thailand at this time.
Asanha Bucha
The first day of Buddhist Lent is Asanha Bucha, a national holiday during which ceremonies are held in temples throughout Thailand. It is commonplace for Thai people to return to their ancestral homes to mark the day, visiting their local temples to listen to sermons and make offerings to the monks.
In some parts of Thailand, monks parade through the town with alms bowls, which community members fill with food or flowers. The monks then take these contributions to the temple and offer them up to Buddha. The monks also chant mantras and read the first sermon of Buddha on this day.
During the evening, a ceremony called Wian Tian is performed, where monks walk clockwise around the shrine of their temple carrying candles, lotus blossoms and incense sticks. In ancient times, before electricity, extra candles were needed to light the temples during the rainy season, and so this custom has continued ever since.
Wan Khao Phansa
The day after Asanha Bucha is known as Wan Khao Phansa, and this special day marks the start of the three-month Phansa period, which is sometimes described as being similar to Christian Lent. On this day, monks prepare to confine themselves to the temple and its surroundings, becoming engrossed in prayer for three months.
Historically, holy men who traveled through the lands would spend time in a single place during the rainy season so as not to damage the growing crops. You may still see monks during the daytime but they do not typically travel far until the season is over in October.
On this day, local people will often bring white and yellow candles to the temple, where they are carved, decorated and displayed or used in parades.
Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival
To witness a stunning candle display and experience Thai culture up close, head to the province of Ubon Ratchathani at the start of Buddhist Lent, where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the renowned Candle Festival.
Based around the park of Thung Sri Mueng, the elaborate event begins with the bringing of candles to the park on Asanha Bucha Day, where they are carved and decorated. The candles are exhibited and a small procession is made around a number of local temples with some of the lighted candles.
The next day, the main procession takes place, with candles paraded through the area on floats, accompanies by dancers and musicians, often traditionally dressed. During the event, both locals and visitors get into the party spirit with games, feasts and specially-organized activities, including cultural shows.
Kathina and Wan Ok Phansa
At the end of Phansa, monasteries celebrate Kathina - a festival that sees locals present the monks at their temple with offerings of clothing as a way of making merit. In ancient times, robes were made by stretching fabric over a kathin frame, thus the festival was named. Outside the temples, colorful parades are held to celebrate.
The final day of Phansa, which falls in October, is known as Wan Ok Phansa. The event is celebrated lavishly in some areas - Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Phanom are two of the best places to witness the grandest celebrations. In both areas, the last day of Buddhist Lent is marked with illuminated boat processions along the Mun and Mekong rivers. Boats are traditionally made with bamboo and banana tree wood and have been known to measure up to 10m in length.
Boats are laden with offerings of sweets and desserts and decorated with lamps and candles before being launched in the evening to represent the removal of negative thoughts and to request intercession for future hopes.
If you’d like to experience the rich cultural and religious aspects of this important festival, book your volunteer vacation to Thailand to coincide with the beginning or end of Buddhist Lent. Of course, there’s plenty to see and do in Thailand at any time of year - download our country guide to find out more.
