Wan Ok Phansa ( th, วันออกพรรษา, ; literally "day of going out of

Vassa The ''Vassa'' ( pi, vassa-, script=Latn, sa, varṣa-, script=Latn, both "rain") is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada practitioners. Taking place during the wet season, Vassa lasts for three lunar months, usually from July ...

", ออก in Thai meaning exit or leave) is the last day of the

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

- Lao observance of

. It occurs in October, three lunar months after the beginning of Vassa, known as ''Wan Khao Phansa'' ( th, วันเข้าพรรษา). The day is celebrated in

Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan ( Isan/ th, อีสาน, ; lo, ອີສານ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pali ''īsānna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 prov ...

by illuminated

boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically found on inl ...

processions ( th, ไหลเรือไฟ ''lai ruea fai'', tts, ไหลเฮือไฟ ''lai huea fai''), notably in Nakhon Phanom Province on the

Mekong The Mekong or Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth longest river and the third longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annual ...

and in

Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Ratchathani ( th, อุบลราชธานี, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan (with Khorat/ Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen), also known as the "big four of Isan." The city is on the Mun River in the so ...

on the

Mun River The Mun River ( th, แม่น้ำมูล, , ), sometimes spelled ''Moon River'', is a tributary of the Mekong River. It carries approximately of water per year. Geography The river begins in the Khao Yai National Park area of the Sankam ...

. The main ceremonies feature boats of 8–10 metres in length, formerly made of banana wood or

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, bu ...

but now sometimes of other materials. The boats are filled with offerings such as ''

khao tom ''Khao tom'' ( lo, ເຂົ້າຕົ້ມ; th, ข้าวต้ม, ; also spelled ''kao tom''), or ''Khao tom mat'' ( th, ข้าวต้มมัด, ) is a Southeast Asian dessert eaten by Laotian and Thai people, consisting of ...

'' ( glutinous rice sweets wrapped in banana leaves) and decorated on the outside with

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

candle A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance. A candle can also provide heat or a method of keeping time. A person who makes candles i ...

s and

lamp Lamp, Lamps or LAMP may refer to: Lighting * Oil lamp, using an oil-based fuel source * Kerosene lamp, using kerosene as a fuel * Electric lamp, or light bulb, a replaceable component that produces light from electricity * Light fixture, or li ...

s. The boats are launched in the evening. Additionally, some celebrants individually launch their own, smaller, vessels. Boat races also take place around this time in many places throughout the country as a way to please the

Nāga The Nagas (IAST: ''nāga''; Devanāgarī: नाग) are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala), and can occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. ...

spirits. Along the

River, people launch little hot air balloons, acting as a lanterns, around the night of Wan Ok Phansa. Launching the boats (or the lanterns) symbolizes your wishes but also getting rid of unnecessary negative feelings.

Etymology

"Wan" ( th, วัน) means "day", "Ok" ( th, ออก) means "to exit; to leave",ออก aawk ''thai-language.com''
/ref> and Phansa ( th, พรรษา) is the Thai word for

Dates for Wan Ok Phansa

References

{{Reflist Buddhist holidays October observances Observances set by the Thai lunar calendar Buddhist festivals in Thailand Boat festivals Observances held on the full moon Buddhist festivals in Myanmar

Etymology

Dates for Wan Ok Phansa

See also

References