📅 holiday

Khao Phansa Day *

Thursday, July 30, 2026

— days to go

Khao Phansa Day is a Buddhist holiday observed in Thailand on the first day following the full moon occurring in the eighth month of the Thai lunar calendar. In 2026, Khao Phansa Day falls on Thursday 30 July. The holiday will be on Tuesday 20 July in 2027. Note: Khao Phansa Day is observed by the Government sector only. Khao Phansa marks the first day of “Buddhist Lent,” a time when observant Buddhists fast from such things as meat, alcohol, and tobacco. For the most part, only Theravada, rather than Mahayana, Buddhists observe Khao Phansa, and even many Theravada practitioners choose not to fast. Another name for Khao Phansa is “the Rains Retreat” because it occurs at the beginning of Thai rainy season and because Buddhist monks take this opportunity to retreat inside their temples for a three-month period of study and meditation. This tradition of a “rainy season retreat” predates Buddhism, but it was followed by Buddha during his lifetime, which encourages many to emulate him today. Many monks enter monastic life on Khao Phansa Day, staying in monasteries and temples until the rainy season ends on Wan Ok Phansa Day. The number of rainy seasons, called “Vassas,” spent in isolation is the measure used to count how many years a Thai Buddhist monk “has been a monk.” After Vassa, Thai Buddhists celebrate the festival of “Kathina,” during which the people bring donations to local temples, which often consist of new robes given to the monks. There are many festivals held all over Thailand on Khao Phansa Day and during Buddhist Lent:

History

Khao Phansa Day is a Buddhist holiday observed in Thailand on the first day following the full moon occurring in the eighth month of the Thai lunar calendar. Khao Phansa marks the first day of “Buddhist Lent,” a time when observant Buddhists fast from such things as meat, alcohol, and tobacco. This tradition of a “rainy season retreat” predates Buddhism, but it was followed by Buddha during his lifetime, which encourages many to emulate him today. The number of rainy seasons, called “Vassas,” sp

How It's Celebrated

Khao Phansa Day is a Buddhist holiday observed in Thailand on the first day following the full moon occurring in the eighth month of the Thai lunar calendar. The holiday will be on Tuesday 20 July in 2027. Note: Khao Phansa Day is observed by the Government sector only. For the most part, only Thera

Other Years

2026 Thu

30 Jul

2027 Tue

20 Jul

2028 Tue

3 Oct

2025 Fri

11 Jul

2024 Sun

21 Jul

Countries

🇹🇭 TH

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THUS

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