Thai people celebrate arrival of three-month retreat ‘Vassa’ with candles

Boats decorated with flowers sail on a canal in Ayutthaya province, Thailand, July 22, 2013.

People celebrated the arrival of Vassa with candles and flowers on Monday in Thailand. This day is also called “Candle Festival” in English by foreigners. Vassa is the three-month annual retreat observed by monks and Buddhist ascetics. The Vassa 2013 starts on July 23 this year. <Xinhua/NEWSis/Gao Jianjun>

People dance on a boat decorated with flowers in Ayutthaya province, Thailand, July 22, 2013. <Xinhua/NEWSis/Gao Jianjun>

A girl sits on a boat decorated with flowers in Ayutthaya province, Thailand, July 22, 2013. <Xinhua/NEWSis/Gao Jianjun>