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Wan Awk PansaWan Awk Pansa (Thai วันออกพรรษา) is the last day of the Thai Buddhist Lent. It occurs in October, three lunar months after Wan Kao Pansa. The day is celebrated in Isan by illuminated boat processions (Thai ไหลเรือไฟ lai reua fai, Isan ไหลเฮือไฟ lai heua fai), notably in Nakhon Phanom on the Mekong river, and in Ubon Ratchathani on the Mun. The main ceremonies features boats of 8-10 metres in length, formerly made of banana wood or bamboo, but now sometimes of other materials. The boats are filled with offerings such as kao tom mut (sticky rice sweets wrapped in banana leaves) and decorated on the outside with flowers, candles and lamps. The boats are launched in the evening. Additionally, some celebrants individually launch their own, smaller vessels. Boat races also take place around this time in many places throughout the country. The phenomenon known as the Naga fireballs, in which glowing egg-sized balls rise out of the Mekong river, is most often reported around the night of Wan Awk Pansa. A clear reason for the fireballs has yet to be determined.
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