The important Buddhist holy day of Wan Ork Pansaa this year falls on Sunday, October 16.
Wan Ork Pansaa, also known as the end of Buddhist Lent, is a national holiday, and many businesses will be closed for one day.
As mandatory on the four most important Buddha days, alcohol sales will be banned nationwide and most bars and entertainment venues closed around Pattaya. As it appears, the booze ban applies from midnight to midnight.
Wan Ork Pansaa marks the end of this year’s Buddhist Lent and and the monks’ annual “rains retreat”, during which they are restricted to their temples for a period of three lunar months. The important Buddhist holiday also marks the “official” end of the rainy season, and devout Buddhists will turn out in the thousands at local temples to make merit (tham bun) and take part in religious ceremonies.
As on the three other main Buddha holidays (and stipulated by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008), alcohol sales are prohibited by law and most bars in Pattaya will be closed for the day (that is from midnight to midnight).
While hotels are exempted from the ban, restaurants, department stores and supermarkets (including 7-Eleven convenience stores) will not be allowed to sell alcohol either.
Anyone violating the law can be fined up to 10,000 Baht and/or receive a prison sentence of up to six months. Bar owners also face the risk of having their venues shut down temporarily if they should be found to ignore the order.
The post End of Buddhist Lent – Alcohol Ban on October 16, 2016 appeared first on Pattaya-Funtown.com.