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Buat Phra
Buddhist Festivals and
Ceremonies
The
annual calendar in Thailand is marked by numerous Buddhist festivals and
events, national and local. Here are some of the more important ones.
Tak
Bhat – offering alms to monks..
This is the most common Buddhist activity in the country, with millions of
Thai Budhists coming out in the early morning to stand in front of their
home and wait for the passing of Buddhist monks. The monks come one at a
time, in smll groups, or, from some monasteries, in long lines.
The monks come to a stop in front of the waiting faithful, who then place
food in the monks bowl – an act of merit that all good Buddhists love the
opportunity to make. Hardly an act of begging by the monks, as it is
sometimes called, the monks are also giving people the opportunity to do a
meritorious deed, so both parties benefit.
After placing food in the monks alms bowl, the giver then shows respect to
the monks with the Thai ‘wei’ greeting. In some parts of the country they
also kneel. Often the monk chants a small mantra as a form of blessing, then
quietly wlks his way. Normally, no words pass between them during this
solemn but happy, everyday ceremony.
Buat
Phra – Entering the Monkhood
This is a very common, yet vitally important, ceremony marking an important
phase in the life of a Thai man. Traditionally every Thai man entered the
monkhood at least once in his lifetime, preferably when still young and
single. There were times when a man would find his chances of marriage more
difficult if he had not undergone this enriching experience in the orange
robes.
- Hair cutting, monthly
- Khao Phansa; Candle Festival
- Ok Phansa
- Wien Tien events
- Chak Phra
- 100 monks
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