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Boun Khao Phansa
Laos

Boun Khao Phansa 2024, 2025 and 2026 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.

YearDateDayHoliday
202420 JulSatBoun Khao Phansa
202524 JulThuBoun Khao Phansa
202613 JulMonBoun 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

YearDateDayHoliday
20233 JulMonBoun Khao Phansa
202213 JulWedBoun Khao Phansa
202124 JulSatBoun Khao Phansa
20205 JulSunBoun Khao Phansa
201916 JulTueBoun Khao Phansa
201827 JulFriBoun Khao Phansa
20178 JulSatBoun Khao Phansa