Wan Khao Phansa 2022

22. August 2022

วันเข้าพรรษา (wan khao phansa) marks the start of the rains retreat — three lunar months in which monks stay at one temple. They leave only in the early morning, to receive food from the village.

It is also the beginning of Buddhist Lent, and for three months there are almost no monks to be seen on the roads of Thailand. Many young men ordain for a time during these weeks; that is called บวชนาค (buat nak).

In 2022 we kept the day on 14 July. The village walked from the centre to วัดรัตนคงคาราม, dancing, for the ceremony with the monks.