Apart from the lantern festival and Songkran, Phansa or Buddhist Lent is one of the most important festivals in the Thai calendar. Like many Southeast Asian countries, the Thai calendar is full of some interesting, fascinating and fun festivals all year long. Buddhist Lent or Phansa is one such festival. Not just Thailand, but this festival is an important time of the year for the Buddhists in Southeast Asia. The festival takes place in the rainy season when farmers plant their rice crops. The festival is celebrated in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and even Myanmar. Let’s have a look at the tradition and history of Buddhist Lent or “Wan Khao Phansa”. History of “Wan Khao Phansa”. Buddhist Lent is said to be the beginning of the three-month period in the rainy season when the monks are required to stay in monasteries or temples. They spend their three months staying in temples and monasteries, studying, meditating, praying and teaching the young and novice monks. The most important part of this period is that monks are not supposed to leave their monasteries and temples. In the past, this rule was quite strict and monks religiously abide by it, but nowadays, monks are sometimes out during the day; they just abstain from travelling during this period. The tradition of Lent started at the time of Buddha. It is said that he came to know that while travelling during monsoon, when farmers were planting rice, monks destroyed the crops and field while crossing it. So, Buddha advised his followers to refrain from travelling during this period in order to save crops and insects during the rainy season. Monks should remain in their temples and monasteries during these three months. Traditions of Buddhist Lent. Since monks abstain from coming out of their temples and monasteries, people bring them various items of use, especially candles. Now, bringing candles for monks is a very sacred ritual for Thai Buddhists for two main reasons, firstly, it would help them to light up the dark temples and monasteries and would help them to study late nights and secondly, people believe that bringing candles would bring them longevity and a bright future. They also bring in robes for monks. The time is also very important for Thai Buddhists as this is the period when young boys are ordained as monks. The festival is very sacred for Buddhists, so they refrain from vices such as consuming liquor, tobacco and practice vegetarianism. To witness the grandeur of the festival, you must visit the UbonRatchathani wax candle festival.
