Known as ‘Khao Phansa,’ the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation. Buddhist monks are supposed to remain within the temple grounds and do not venture out for a period of three months starting from the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month (today) to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October).
In days gone by, this was done to prevent monks from trampling upon rice paddies and other crops when they ventured out to receive their hand-outs from the villagers.
Buddhism & Buddhist traditions and beliefs are central forces that shape the local way of life and give rise to various festivals of religious origin which have been observed for generations. For example, the majority of the Buddhist ordinations take place during the Buddhist Lent when young novices enter the monkhood.