Vassa is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhists. Taking place during the wet season, Vassa lasts for three lunar months, usually from July onwards.
Offering of vassa candle at the beginning of the vassa, pictured here in Lamphun, Thailand
Kathina is a Buddhist festival which comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos
Vassa
…ends on Pavarana, when all monastics come before the sangha and atone for any offense that might have been committed during Vassa. Vassa is followed by Kathina, a festival in which the laity expresses gratitude to monks. Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks. The Vassa…
Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand offers robes to monks in the 2010 Kathina.