Boun Khao Phansa 2025, 2026 and 2027 in Laos

Boun Khao Phansa in Laos is the start of the three-month period sometimes referred to as “Buddhist Lent”. Boun Khao Phansa starts on the full moon of the eighth month and runs till the full moon of the eleventh month of the Buddhist Calendar.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2025	24 Jul	Thu	Boun Khao Phansa
2026	13 Jul	Mon	Boun Khao Phansa
2027	18 Jul	Sun	Boun Khao Phansa
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

During this time period, Buddhist monks stay at a pagoda and focus on meditation and strict observance of their religion. They are especially forbidden from sleeping anywhere else but in their pagoda at night.

On Boun Khao Phansa, people of villages throughout Laos bring food offerings in bowls to the pagoda-bound monks – a practice called “tak bat”. Tak bat means “morning offering”, and indeed, these offerings are brought in the morning hours.

There are other rituals performed by the people and monks on Boun Khao Phansa, such as the blessing of “holy water” which is then poured out onto the earth, candlelight processions around Buddhist temples, and neighbourhood “drumming competitions”.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	20 Jul	Sat	Boun Khao Phansa
2023	3 Jul	Mon	Boun Khao Phansa