Waso (redirected from Buddhist Rains Retreat)

Waso (Buddhist Rains Retreat)

June-July to September-October; full moon of Buddhist month of Waso to full moon of Buddhist month of Thadingyut

Waso is a three-month period when monks remain in monasteries to study and meditate. At other times of the year, monks wander the countryside, but this is the time of monsoons in Southeast Asia, and the Buddha chose this period for retreat and prayer so they wouldn't walk across fields and damage young rice plants. However, even in China, Japan, and Korea—countries that don't have monsoons—the Waso is observed. It is also known as the Buddhist Lent . In Cambodia and India it is called Vassa or Vossa . In Burma (now Myanmar) and Thailand it is called Phansa, Waso, Wasa, or Wazo Full Moon Day ; and in Laos, Vatsa.
The months are considered a time of restraint and abstinence. Weddings are not celebrated, and people try to avoid moving to new homes. Many young men enter the priesthood just for the retreat period, and therefore many ordinations take place. The new young monks have their heads shaved and washed with saffron, and they are given yellow robes. Many lay people attend the monasteries for instruction.
The day just prior to the retreat commemorates the Buddha's first sermon to his five disciples, 49 days after his enlightenment.
In Thailand, the start of the retreat, called Khao Phansa, is observed in the northeastern city of Ubon Ratchathani with the Candle Festival, in which beeswax candles carved in the shapes of birds and other figures, several yards high, are paraded and then presented to the temples. In many places, a beeswax candle is lit at the beginning of Waso and kept burning throughout the period. In Saraburi, people offer flowers and incense to monks who walk to the hilltop Shrine of the Holy Footprint where they present the offerings as tribute ( see also Phra Buddha Bat Fair ). It is traditional everywhere for people to bring food and other necessities to the monasteries.
The end of this period, called Ok-Barnsa, or Full Moon Day of Thadingyut, is a time of thanksgiving to the monks, and also, according to legend, the time when the Buddha returned to earth after visiting his mother in heaven and preaching to her for three months. During the month of celebration (known as Kathin ), lay people present monks with new robes and other items for the coming year.
Boat races are held on the rivers in Laos at Vientiane, Luang Phabang and Savannakhet, and in Thailand at numerous places. A special ceremony takes place in Bangkok when elaborate golden royal barges, rowed by oarsmen in scarlet, proceed to Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), where the king presents robes to the monks.
At Sakon Nakhon in northeastern Thailand, people build temples and shrines from beeswax and parade them through the streets to present them at temples. After the presentations, there are regattas and general festivities.
In Myanmar, a Festival of Lights called the Tassaung Daing or Tazaungdaing Festival is held at this time, when the moon is full. Homes are lit with paper lanterns, and all-night performances are staged by dancers, comedians, and musicians. A major event of the festival is an all-night weaving contest at the Shwe Dagon pagoda in Rangoon (officially called Yangon); young unmarried women spend the night weaving robes, and at dawn they are offered to images of the Buddha at the pagoda. Similar weaving competitions are held throughout the country.
See also Thadingyut

CONTACTS:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
0611 N. Larchmont Blvd., 1st Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
800-842-4526 or 323-461-9814; fax: 323-461-9834
www.tourismthailand.org

SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 23, Sep 22, Oct 20, Oct 29
EncyRel-1987, vol. 2, p. 551
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 412
HolSymbols-2009, p. 1033
RelHolCal-2004, p. 220