Ork Pansa occurs on the full moon marking the end Buddhist Lent. The Wat Thai Temple of Melbourne will celebrate the end of Rains Retreat (or Buddhist Lent) at Box Hill on Sunday, 20 October.
Taking place during the rainy season, the Rains Retreat lasts for three lunar months, usually from July to October.
For the duration of this rain retreat, Monks remain inside monasteries and temple grounds. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Rains Retreat to intensive meditation.
Ork Pansa 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.
Ork Pansa occurs on the full moon marking the end Buddhist Lent. Monks who were ordained for the three months of Lent can leave the temple and rejoin their families.
It is believed that on the day after Ork Pansa, Lord Buddha returned from the Heavenly Realms after teaching the Dhamma to his mother. Buddhists would celebrate this in a Tak Bat Devo Ceremony, which refers to the offerings made to the Lord Buddha upon his return.
There will be a Program on Sunday 20 October at the Thai Buddhist Temple, 489 Elgar Road, Box Hill, from 9 AM with traditional offering: Tak Bat Devo ceremony, offering of lunch to the Monks, and then Lunch for All.
Religions for Peace Australia is pleased to be associated with the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple of Melbourne, an association which goes back many years.
