Thadingyut

Thadingyut

September-October; full moon of Thadingyut

For Buddhists, the period that begins with the full moon day of the 11th lunar month and continues until the full moon day of the 12th lunar month marks the end of the Buddhist Lent and the beginning of the Kathin, or pilgrimage season. Also known as Robe Offering Month, this is a time when Buddhists make pilgrimages to various temples, bringing food and gifts—particularly new robes—to the monks. In Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thadingyut is the day on which the Buddha completed his preaching of the Abhidhamma, or "philosophy," and it is sometimes referred to as Abhidhamma Day . In Laos, it is called Boun Ok Vatsa, or the Festival of the Waters, as it is a popular time for pirogue (canoe) races. In Thailand, it is called Tod Kathin —the kathin being a wooden frame on which scraps of cloth were stretched before being sewn together to make into robes.
See also Tazaungdaing; Waso

SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 23, Sep 22, Oct 20, Oct 27, Oct 29
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 615
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