Jan 01

Making Good Luck for New Year

By Richard Barrow Email

Friday 1st January, 2010 | 256 words | Category: Festivals | 3 feedbacks »

Judging by these photos that I took early this morning, not everyone was nursing hangovers after welcoming in the New Year at midnight last night. Like thousands of other local people from Paknam, I was up early at 6 a.m. to head down to the City Pillar where the main road through town had been closed for a merit making ceremony. This is a traditional Thai way of bringing yourself good luck for the new year.

Exactly 99 monks from nine local temples were invited to attend the chanting and merit making. Tables had been lined up on both sides of the road and people came early with food and essential supplies to offer to the monks. After the chanting, the Governor of Samut Prakan then gave everyone a blessing for a prosperous new year. Then the 99 monks came out to receive the alms.

It was all over almost before it had started. Taking pictures of the mass alms giving is always a bit difficult. Apart from being so many people there, each monk had a helper who had to keep emptying the alms bowl by pouring the contents into a sack. They often walked in front of the monks that sometimes blocked our view. I took lots of pictures but I had to make sure that I got at least one good one of the Governor and his wife for the local newspaper. Visit our www.paknam.com website for more local news. I have also posted many more pictures and a video of this event.

Do you have any questions about Thailand? Maybe you are planning a holiday or just want to learn more about Thai culture. Have all of your questions answered for free at ThailandQA.com. These forums are part of the family friendly Paknam Web Network.

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Comment from: Thailand photos
*****
This is a exellent blog with very nice
Thailand photos. I like so much this blogpage :-)
01/01/2010 @ 21:12
Comment from: Betti
I'm always wondering how much food is squashed, spilled, mixed up, or rendered inedible in these ceremonies. I guess I am too pragmatic for my own good, but personally I don't consider it real merit-making to give food to someone who has enough, or to release a fish that was caught for people to release in the first place. I accept it and I would take photos too but it leaves me feeling a little disillusioned every time.
yes I know I think too much.
01/01/2010 @ 21:28
Comment from: Richard Barrow Email · http://www.richardbarrow.com
Betti, I would agree with that. I think there is a potential for a lot of waste here (and corruption with the reselling of some items). I know that some temples open their doors to local poor people to give them the surplus food, but I think the money would be better spent on giving to local charities. But then again, in a Buddhist eyes, they won't get as much merit for doing this.
02/01/2010 @ 09:05

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