Phnom penh: Cambodian people across the country are celebrating Chol Vossa (enter rainy season) or Rainy Retreat, an annual Buddhist festival that begins today.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, this year, the religious festival falls on July 30 and will last until Oct. 27, in the pagodas across Cambodia. During this three-month-long festival, the monks do not leave their pagodas to collect alms as usual. They must remain within the temple compound. However, they can accept the invitation of devotees and travel out during the daytime, but they cannot stay out of the pagoda overnight.

Generally, Buddhist followers offer Tean Vossa (Vossa candle), a large candle that has to be lighted the whole days and nights during the festival, as well as oil, robes, and other food supplies to the monks. Tean Vossa is considered as the light for life, in which the dark part of life would be lightened, guiding a way out toward nirvana. The end of the Rainy Retreat or Chegn Vossa Festival will also be celebrated.