A public holiday in Thailand usually means some sort of Buddhist festival or celebration. This was definitely the case over the weekend when 2 holidays merged – long weekend!
The weekend started off on Friday with Wan Asana Bucha (วันอาสาฬหบูชา), a celebration of the day Buddha delivered his first sermon. This is apparently one of there most spectacular ceremonies to see at a temple.
After 2 previous attempts over the years to see this ceremony (which have obviously failed) we decided to try again. Upon entering (wearing my best ‘polite’ temple attire and not showing any tempting knees or shoulders) we found it to be pretty full. You would think everyone would be quiet and attentive but no…like every other Thai gathering everyone just chats away. People were even taking selfies!
After the chanting that happens we headed outside to participate in the ‘walking around temple 3 times’ routine. People started lighting their candles and incense sticks and following the monks. We passed around the incense and started lighting them only to be affronted by local Thai’s telling us that holding only 1 incense stick was bad luck! Out of nowhere we were given all the appropriate materials – 3 incense sticks, a yellow candle (which continually went out) and a lotus flower.
(Tyler getting ready to set off)
It really was beautiful. We walked, we admired, we offered flowers to Buddha and picked up our bracelets on the way out.
The remainder of the weekend was for Wan Khao Pansa (วันเข้าพรรษา) or the beginning of Buddhist Lent. This marks the official start of the rainy season when monks retreat into the temple for 3 months without leaving.
“The tradition dates from the time of the Buddha, when he forbade monks to travel during the rainy season for fear that they might unintentionally harm crops or insects in the places where they walked.”
