Thai Buddhists end Lent with Wan Awk Phansa tomorrow

News in Asia
Thai Buddhists end Lent with Wan Awk Phansa tomorrow

The full-moon tomorrow signifies the end of the three-month-long period of Lent for Buddhists in Thailand. Buddhists will be making a trip to their local temples to give small donations of sweets and the like to mark Wan Awk Phansa.

As is the case with most major Thai Buddhist events, saffron-robed monks will give sermons in the temples. Lent is called Vassa in Thai and Wan Awk Phansa is the name given to the official end of the period of abstinence which began in July.

Like Christians, Buddhists typically give up habits like drinking alcohol and eating meat products for Lent.  On the traditional calendar for Thailand, Wan Awk Phansa falls in the eleventh month.

From a visual perspective, there is not much for tourists to see in most locations in Thailand. A notable exception is the Lai Reua Fai illuminated boat fest held in Nakhon Phanom Province. The sight of the boats floating on the waters of the Mekong River is awesome. 

12GO ASIA notes that Wan Awk Phansa is a religious festival and not a public holiday. This means banks, immigration offices and post offices will be opening as normal.

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