The first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month each year marks the Day of Khao Phansa or the day of Buddhist Lent. In 2024, this falls on Sunday 21st July. The significance of this day is that Buddhist monks will stay in a monastery for a three-month period to study the Dharma and the monastic rules. At the same time, before Buddhist Lent begins, Buddhist laypeople prepare candles and bathing robes to offer to the temples.
Wan Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent)
Wan Khao Phansa is another significant day in Buddhism. It’s the day when monks make a vow to stay at a single location for the entire rainy season or three months, as prescribed by monastic rules. They are not allowed to stay overnight elsewhere. This is commonly known as Jam Phansa (“Phansa” means “rainy season” and “Jam” means “to stay”). This ritual is a direct and mandatory practice for monks under all circumstances.
For Buddhist laypeople, their connection to Wan Khao Phansa involves bringing bathing robes and Lent candles to offer the monks for their use during this period. The candles are also donated to be lit in the temple’s main hall, providing light for the monks’ meditation and study of the Dharma and monastic discipline.
Lent Candles and the Candle Procession
Before Buddhist Lent begins, Buddhist laypeople collectively make Lent candles to be paraded and offered to the temple on the day of Khao Phansa.
Originally, Lent candles were made by boiling beeswax from beehives and rolling it into candles for offering. Later, people began decorating the candles using heat or sun-dry beeswax to soften it, then sculpt it into shapes like the Lamduan flower to attach to the candle base. Alternatively, they would melt beeswax, carve a papaya or pumpkin into a design, insert a stick, and then dip the mold into the melted wax and into cold water. After the beeswax hardened, they would remove it from the mold, cut and decorate it, and then attach it to the candle base. Another method involved using a cement mold with traditional Thai patterns, pressing softened beeswax onto the mold, and then attaching it to the candle base. The most popular method today is to intricately carve beautiful patterns directly onto the candle’s surface. Meanwhile, the candle’s base is decorated with sculptures depicting religious stories.
Making Lent candles is an activity that gives young people and teenagers the opportunity to experience art and culture firsthand. They can volunteer to help the temple artisans carve intricate patterns on the candles and research methods to make the Lent candles beautiful and elaborated.
The candle procession itself is a blend of old and new generations. Traditional folk music, such as the Pong Lang or the khaen bamboo mouth organ, is played by both the elderly and the young. Thai dance processions will consist of more children and young adults than older people. Some communities parade their floats along the streets, while those living near rivers hold their processions by boat. This local cultural tradition is an excellent way to foster unity among the Buddhist people in the community.
For this year’s Buddhist Lent, it is a must-see opportunity for the beautiful and magnificent Candle Procession, a masterpiece crafted by Buddhist people. You’ll also get to experience the joyful and lively atmosphere of the procession, which showcases the powerful unity of the Buddhist community.
ภาพจิตรกรรมฝาผนัง แห่เทียนพรรษา จากคลังภาพจิตรกรรมฝาผนัง: อู่ทอง ประศาสน์วินิจฉัย
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อู่ทอง ประศาสน์วินิจฉัย. เป็นคนไทยทั้งที. กรุงเทพฯ: คอมแพคท์พรินท์. 2564.
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