Full Moon Day of Waso, also sometimes called start of Buddhist lent.
The three-month annual retreat observed by the practitioners of Theravada Buddhism.
The first day of Vassa is a public holiday in Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
Although Vassa is often called Buddhist Lent, a spiritual retreat is not the same thing as a lent.
A retreat is a time for prayer, reflection, or meditation, usually spent at a remote location.
It can either be a community experience or a time of solitude.
Retreats are often held in silence, but they might involve conversation as well.
Advanced practitioners can undertake retreats in darkness.
