Buddhists make merit at their local temples during the Devorohana ceremony.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya-area Buddhists marked the end of Buddhist Lent by
going to local temples for merit-making and commemorating Buddha’s descent
from heaven via a staircase of crystal, silver and gold.
Youths
release birds for good luck.
Auk Pansaa, which fell on Oct. 23, ends the three-month
“rains retreat” monks make inside their temple so as not to trample rice
crops during the rainy season.
It traditionally is followed the next day by ‘Tak Baht
Devo’, the Buddhist merit-making ritual that is performed on the final day
of the festival, which signals the end of the Buddhist Lent.
The word ‘Devo’ originates from the word “Devorohana” and
refers to Buddhist celebrations marking the special occasion of the return
of the Lord Buddha to earth, as mentioned in ancient Buddhist tales. This
year it was celebrated on Oct. 24.
This
youngster, like many grownups, donates to the poor to make merit.
Pattaya residents celebrated the holy weekend by giving
alms to monks and releasing birds for good luck at all area temples.
Together they prayed and paid respect to images of their lord.
The merit-making continued for Devorohana, with believers
offering sticky rice wrapped with banana or coconut leaves to monks before
settling in to hear the story of how Buddha returned to earth after
delivering a sermon for his mother in the Tawatimsa Heaven. At Wat Khao
Baisri, 50,000 pieces of the sticky rice dish were offered.
According to Buddhist lore, Buddha’s mother died when he
was very young and, unlike his aunt who raised him, never received the
benefit of his teachings. She was destined to live for eons in the Tawatimsa
Heaven before being reincarnated and continuing her path toward
enlightenment. The lord took pity on her and decided to ascend to heaven to
deliver a sermon that would deliver her into enlightenment quickly.
Following the sermon, the deities who protect all
Buddhist temples paid respect to Lord Buddha by constructing a stairway of
gold, silver and crystal to facilitate his return to earth. His journey down
those stairs and the scene of thousands of heavenly beings paying homage to
him along the way serve as the basis of the Devorohana ceremony.
Pattaya
Buddhists offer alms to monks at Big Buddha Hill, as the monks simulate the
Buddha’s descent from heaven via a staircase of crystal, silver and gold.
Learning
young - children give alms of rice and dried food.
People
ring the bells at Wat Kao Phra Yai to invite prosperity.
Women at
Wat Khao Baisri prepare sticky rice wrapped with banana or coconut leaves to
offer to monks.
