Pattaya Celebrates “Asanha Buscha”

On Friday Pattaya celebrated Asanha Buscha Day. Asanha Buscha anticipates Kao Pansa, the three month period of Buddhist penitence and fasting also known as Buddhist Lent which starts on Saturday.

Buddhist Lent starts on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month. The tradition of Buddhist Lent or the annual three-month Rains Retreat known in Thai as “Phansa”, dates back to the time of early Buddhism in ancient India, all holy men, mendicants and sages spent three months of the annual rainy season in permanent dwellings. They avoided unnecessary travel during the period when crops were still new for fear they might accidentally step on young plants.

To celebrate Asanha Buscha, we attended the Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya where worshippers made merit by placing hot wax into molds which would create spectacular candles.

Most bars will be either closed or will be serving only soft drinks as the consumption of alcohol is not permitted on Ansanha Buscha and Lent day.

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