People form a bucket brigade to bring cement
and precious items to be put on top of the new Buddha statue in Rayong.
Patcharapol Panrak
Buddhists from across the country descended upon Rayong to
contribute everything from jewelss to cement to cast a new 12-meter-tall
Lord Buddha statue for Dokkrai Temple.
Hundreds of people turned out Oct. 28, carrying a painting of the
Buddha, gold, brass, jewels, steel and stones, all to be put in the head
of the new statue, in a grand merit-making ceremony for the casting of
Lord Buddha Somdet Ong Prathom, known as the “first Lord Buddha” statue.
The image is being cast both for the use of monks and to honor Their
Majesties as upholders of Buddhism in Thailand.
Baideeka Kittisak Attakovito, abbot at Dokkrai Temple, said the
donations are immense merit offerings since Buddhists traveled to the
Rayong temple with items that have been preserved for many years.
When complete, the statue will stand 12 m. tall and its lap will measure
6.5 m. across.
Baideeka Kittisak
Attakovito, abbot at Dokkrai Temple, collects precious items to put into
the Buddha statue.
Precious items collected are
added to the statue.
