On now: about 30 Jul to 26 Oct 2026
Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreat
Three months from July to October, when monks stay in their monasteries and many Buddhist families do not marry.
When is Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreat in 2026?
Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreat 2026 runs from 30 July to 26 October 2026. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2027, 19 July to 15 October 2027; 2028, 7 July to 3 October 2028.
About Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreat
Vassa, or Buddhist Lent, runs from the day after Asalha Puja in July to the full moon of October, when monks keep to one monastery and the laity practise restraint. In Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar weddings are not often held in the period, and couples wait for the cool season after Ok Phansa. In Myanmar and Sri Lanka the same customs are common, and the astrologer is asked before a date is fixed. The dates follow the full moon.
Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreat dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Vassa, the Buddhist rains retreat date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 30 July to 26 October 2026 |
| 2027 | 19 July to 15 October 2027 |
| 2028 | 7 July to 3 October 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is served
- offerings to monks
- candles
Also part of it, and being written: Vassa (The rains retreat.), Asalha Puja (The festival before it begins.), Culture of Thailand (The country whose weddings wait.).
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background: "Vassa" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.