KHAO PHANSA
Khao Phansa means retreat from the rain day. This holiday is normally celebrated at the end of July and marks the beginning of the observance of Buddhist Lent, throughout the Kingdom. This holiday is the time when Thai young novices are elevated to the monk-hood.
During the rainy season, monks are forbidden to sleep outside their temples. They also can not wearing anything but their monk's robes. The tradition stems from when Buddha stayed in temples during the rainy period to avoid killing insects and damaging growing shoots in the fields.
Traditionally, because of the darker conditions the populace made ornate candles to help the monks to read and write. These ornate candles have now become central to the processions that are carried out in towns throughout Thailand.