Buddhist Lent is a special three-month-long period which starts on the full moon in July and ends on the full moon in October. The beginning of the Buddhist Lent is widely celebrated in South-East Asia, including Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. Every year Boun Khao Pansa festival marks its beginning and both monks and local people follow ancient traditions which can also be joined by numerous tourists.
Boun Khao Phansa History
According to an ancient legend, monks didn't stop their wandering even during the rainy season which caused complaints about people trampling rice fields and damaging seedlings. As a result, Buddha forbade monks to wander during this time and instead made them stay in their temples.
The First Day of Buddhist Lent Traditions
Early in the morning on the first day of Boun Khao Phansa, people gather food—rice, bananas, kaoton, and some necessities like soap and toothpaste. They bring all these goods and other donations to the temples, listen to Buddhist teachings, and receive blessings as a reward. In the evening, monks and their novices carry flowers and candles around the central temple three times. Also, on this day, there are other rituals, for example, the blessing of “holy water,” when monks pour water on the ground, and "drummer competitions."
Boun Khao Phansa is also called "the Rains Retreat" because it takes place at the beginning of the Thai rainy season when Buddhist monks retreat to their temples for a three-month period of study and meditation. This self-isolation is also proof of the monks' respect for the farmers. At this time, the monks avoid trampling the crops during the sensitive period of cultivation.