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Community celebrates Asalahabucha Day and make merit at local temples
The
Pattaya community celebrated Asalahabucha Day and beginning of Buddhist Lent
by making merit at local temples.
Last weekend, the Buddhist Holy Day of Asalahabucha fell
on the 15th night of the full moon, during the eighth month of the Buddhist
Lunar calendar.
Asalahabucha Day is worshipped because of three important
events occurring on that day. Called the “Triple Gem” it commemorates
the first sermon given by the Buddha called the “Dhammachakapavattama
Sutta” denoting the “Four Noble Truths” that were presented to the
Buddha’s first five disciples. The sermon set in motion the “Wheel of
Dhamma”.
A
devout Buddhist pays homage to the image of Lord Buddha
Mayor
Pairat, deputy mayor Wattana, teachers and students listen to the monks’
sermon
Residents
go through the ritual of giving food and alms to be presented to the monks
The sermon concluded that all things are a source of
suffering, from the constant cycle of birth, disease, old age and death.
Secondly, desire, or the inability to obtain what one desires, is the cause
of suffering resulting from cause and effect. Thirdly, freedom from
suffering can be obtained after the complete cessation of desire. And
finally, the last of the Four Noble Truths is the “Middle Way”, or the
path between extremes of asceticism and indulgence leading to the
elimination of desire.
The Middle Way or the Eight-Fold Path consists of
possessing the correct: Views, Resolve, Speech, Conduct, Livelihood, Effort,
Mindfulness, and Meditation (or Concentration).
The day is also considered to be the birth of Buddhism,
as the Buddha left the location where he obtained his enlightenment two
months earlier and then came to a forest area in the city of Bharanasi where
he showed favor to five ascetics, who became his followers.
Monks
lead the procession around the temple in the ‘Wian Thian’ cremonies
Devotees,
make merit by pouring wax into the mould for making huge candles “Thian
Pansa”
Also recognized on the same day was the first person that
listened to the Buddha’s sermon and realizing the truths contained therein
became the first Buddhist monk, thereby creating the Buddhist order “Sangha”.
The Wien Tien ritual ceremony was performed in temples
throughout Thailand during the evening and continued on during the lunar
eclipse as devout followers of Buddhism brought candles, flowers and joss
sticks, then completed three cycles of walking around sacred temple grounds.
Pattaya City’s Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, deputy
mayor Wattana Chantharawaranond, teachers, and students participated in a
procession to nearby temples, bringing traditional offerings of candles,
flowers, joss sticks and other items of necessity for monks residing in the
temple during this rainy season.
The processions traveled along the city streets in Naklua
in an impressive display of devotion, ending up at temples where the groups
of students and school faculty members performed the Wien Thian ceremonial
walk three times around sacred temple grounds.
The Royal Wien Tien ceremony is traditionally held at the Buddhamonthol
Temple in Nakhorn Pathom and many people traveled from great distances to
witness the auspicious ceremony and participate in the rituals and
traditions of Asalahabucha Day.
Pattaya 4 Fun weekends bring
happiness and joy to Pattaya
Businesses pleased with increase in visitors revenue
by Suchada Tupchai
“Pattaya 4 Fun” which ran over 4 consecutive weekends
came to a close last Saturday amidst cheers and accolades for the organisers
who had managed to create exciting activities for Pattaya which will be the
blue print for many more festivals, ensuring an influx of tourists to
Pattaya in the future.
Minister
Sontaya Khunpluem (center), Chonburi governor Pisit Ketphasook, Mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat and the chefs show their approval of the Tom Yam.
There
was so much sea food to be enjoyed by everyone
A
foriegn visitor enjoying fun and games on stage
The
three beauty queens
Kanthamanee
Intharamanee ‘Petch’ (left) and Tony Malhotra (right) performed superbly
as MCs throughout the 4 weeks of the Pattaya 4 Fun festival.
The first Saturday started off with the making of the
world’s biggest ‘tom yam’, Thailand’s famous spicy sour soup. This
event was presided over by Sontaya Khunpluem, Minister of Tourism and
Sports. The first week’s activities included an ice carving contests,
cocktail mixing competitions, cabaret shows from Tiffanys Cabaret Show and
music concerts on the beach.
The second weekend included a ‘som tam’ making
contest choosing the winner who made the tastiest, hottest papaya salad in
Thailand. Traditional dances from Mini Siam and music concerts by various
bands.
The 3rd Saturday featured a beauty pageant with a
difference, the Miss Pattaya International. Over 40 ‘women of the second
category”, representing various countries of the world, lined up in front
of judges to display their stunning - and not so stunning - beauty.
Fun aside; the pageant side did have some serious
motivation. The ladies were only given three minutes each to display their
best talents for the judges, all vying for the first prize of 10,000 baht
and other prizes such as Miss Congeniality, Best Presentation and Best
Effort in Beauty.
First prize went to Pornfah Porpratarn representing
Thailand with Mimikudas representing Tahiti in second place and Monasza
Chongmaki representing Columbia in third place. The rains stalled long
enough for the spoof pageant to be held drawing yet more interest from a
wide variety of visitors throughout the evening.
The fourth and final Saturday of the ‘Pattaya 4 Fun’
festival coincided with the long public holiday, Asalahabucha and Khao
Phansa Day. Pattaya Beach Soi 4 was highlighted by the Seafood Rally had
lots of drawing of prizes.
The rules were quite easy. When you bought food at any of
the numerous food stalls that was set along the beach, you would get a
ticket with a number. You simply write your name and telephone number on it
and drop into a box for the drawing.
Tiger Zoo Sri Racha, Million Years Stone Park, Crocodile
Farm Pattaya, Mini Siam, Alcazar Show, were among the many reputable
establishments who generously contributed entrance tickets for the drawing.
Various hotels included were A-One Hotel Royal Cruise, Pattaya Hill Resort,
ad Siam Sawasdee Hotel contributing prizes for accommodations and tour
packages. Amazing musical shows from Pattaya Music Band and Thailand’s
famous duo singers Sumet and Pung had everyone on their feet, dancing to
their hearts’ content. Extraordinary shows from Million Years Stone Park,
Crocodile Farm Pattaya and Alcazar shows also attracted party goers to the
fourth and final Saturday of the Pattaya 4 Fun festival.
The mayor has promised, that more of these fun festivals will be held in
Pattaya throughout the year.
Blind school children celebrate beginning of Buddhist Lent
by Suchada Tupchai
On the 8th July, Auraura Sribuaphan, director of the
Pattaya School for the Blind along with staff and hundreds of school
children formed a ceremonial procession to mark the beginning of the
Buddhist Lent at Wat Phodhi Samphan.
The
beautifully decorated procession arrives at Wat Potisamphan.
Aurora
Sribuaphan leads the procession of blind children to make merit at the
temple
Blind
children singing and dancing all the way
The long colorful procession attracted a large number of
onlookers which lined both sides of the Pattaya Naklua Road. The fascinated
crowd watched as the children paraded into the temple ground.
Then the youngsters walked around the chapel three times
with candles and other offerings which were presented to the monks for their
use during Lent since they will be confined to the temple until the monsoon
rains ends. After the rainy season is over the monks may leave their temple
abodes to again receive alms from the lay people each morning.
The tradition has been passed on down through the
earliest years and brings bliss and calm to one and all as they pay homage
and exude humility to society.
Bikers roll into the city for the first annual Pattaya Bike Weekend
Songklod Kaewvisit
The sound of rolling thunder filled the street of Pattaya
on Saturday afternoon July 5th as 500 large motorcycles stormed onto Pattaya
Beach Road to take part in the First Pattaya Bike Weekend.
Lewis
‘Woody’ Underwood out raising funds for this year’s Charity Drive by
selling Jesterware at the Pattaya Bike Weekend.
Harley
Davidsons, BMW’s and other monster bikes from around the country line up
in Pattaya for all to see.
Tip Plaza, between Soi 10 & 11 on Beach Road was
awash with leather clad bikers on Harley Davidson’s, BMW Cruisers and
other large bikes that filled the grounds in front of the stage.
The Jesters were seen clowning about and enjoying the
gathering as they sold Jesterware to raise funds for the club and this
year’s Charity Drive. Other clubs from around the nation had traveled from
far and wide to join in the activities.
However, the high light of the event was the concert by
Carabao, promoting their energy drink, ‘Carabao Daeng’ and many of
Pattaya’s top performers including Lam Morrison.
Plenty
of merchandise on sale for those wanting a piece of memorabilia.
Pattaya
Bike Weekend was attended by bikers, young and old.
The two-day weekend went off with out a hitch and we can
expect to see the bikes back in Pattaya next year for another round.
Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank becomes 11th Platinum Sponsor
Standard Chartered NakornthonBank last week became the
11th Platinum sponsor for Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2003. The main
three recipients this year for Care 4 Kids are the Fountain of Life, the
Huay Pong Centre in Rayong and the Redemptorist School for Blind Children in
Naklua. The latter, in particular, is very close to SCNs heart as the
worldwide charity campaign for the bank this year is “Seeing is
Believing”.This year SCN has already raised over USD500,000 worldwide for
blind children.
Graham
Macdonald (left) gratefully receives the cheque from Tim Miller.
When Graham Macdonald contacted the CEO of Standard
Chartered Nakornthon Bank, Vishnu Mohan, he was immediately put through to
David Shaw who is the SEVP Human Resources for Thailand and Mekong. As one
of the charities that Jesters Care for Kids is supporting this year tied in
exactly with what SCN wanted he immediately promised that the bank would
become a platinum sponsor.
Conveniently, SCN was holding its annual Group Human
Resouces Meeting at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya. Jesters Care 4
Kids was invited along to receive the cheque for 100,000 Baht from the Group
Head of Human Resources Mr. Tim Miller. Tim Miller, who was temporarily
blind earlier in life, gave the audience of 150 delegates an small idea of
what it is like to be blind. He praised all those who worked on behalf of
the blind.
On behalf of Jesters Care for Kids, Graham Macdonald - President of the
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2003 - gratefully received the cheque
and gave a brief outline to the audience of what the Blind School in Naklua
actually did for the children and how the money donated by SCN would be put
to good use. Closing his speech, Graham promised the SCN employees that,
“Every Baht will be put to good use so as to try and improve the lives of
these young children”.
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