Thais will celebrate Asanha Bucha, a major Buddhist holiday, on 19 July.
The festival celebrates the day Buddha preached his first sermon to his disciples. Today, it is a popular time for Thai men to be ordained as monks.
Asanha Bucha is followed by Khao Phansa, the first day of the Buddhist Lent, which lasts for three months. During this period, monks retreat to their monasteries and temples to engage in meditation.