Buddhist Lent

Some bagpackers were left dazed and confused on the street yesterday as bars and restaurants stop selling alcohol for Buddhist lent. ThaiBuddhist.com provides a good description of Thai Lent… "'Khao Phansa', the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation. Buddhist monks 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 (in July) to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October) unless necessary. " The first day is a national holiday and a day when Buddhist's flock to temples to make merit by offering stocks for the monks while they are in retreat, particularly candles, which are made on the temple grounds.

Some Buddhist also believe by pasting the 21K gold paper on the Buddha can accumulate good merits. Fortunately, for those who are distances away and yet to see the genuine Thai culture at Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat (Wat Yai). Here are the pictures...