The Greater Pattaya area celebrated summer’s double
Buddhist holiday, partaking in traditional ceremony for Asalaha Bucha
Day then lighting up candles for Khao Phansa, also known as Buddhist
Lent.
Students from Pattaya School
#5 present necessities to monks at Wat Nong Or.
From Naklua’s Sanctuary of Truth to South Pattaya’s
Chaimongkol Temple and beyond, Thais queued up July 15 to donate rice,
dried food and robes to monks and recite prayers. Many took part in the
sacred Wien Thien ritual, triple circumambulations of the Buddhist
relics, an age-old tradition.
Asalaha Bucha Day marks the anniversary of Lord
Buddha’s first sermon. That sermon concerned the Four Noble Truths
presented to Buddha’s first five disciples in the forest of Esipatana
Marukatayawan, in the Paranasi District in India. This set in motion the
Wheel of Dharma.
Monks lead a candlelight Wien
Thien ceremony in Sattahip.
At the Sanctuary of Truth, ten monks preached Dharma
on discipline, the Lord Buddha’s achievements in Dharma study, and the
history of spirits, the Deva and sanctity according to the scriptures.
Pichan Wiriyaphan (executive of Ancient City Co.)
gave alms for the devotion of parents and the former Kings of Siam.
Afterward, Naowarat Khakhay, president of the Pattaya Cultural Council,
said the dried food and rice given as alms would help support the
Banglamung Home for Boys.
Downtown, the scene was livelier with South Road full
of temple-goers. Younger couples fled the crowds and went to give alms
on Pratamnak Hill, mixing tradition with a modern romantic holiday.
Surrounding Asalaha Bucha Day were commemorations to
mark the start of Buddhist Lent. Around the area, candle parades were
the order of the day, with Pattaya’s among the most celebrated.
Students lead a small candle
cart with beautiful flower decorations, and a beautiful young flower
inside, in a Wien Thien ceremony for the Redemptorist School for the
Blind.
Festivities actually began July 14 with students from
Pattaya’s 11 public schools and others gathering to decorate candles to
be judged on both beauty and creativity. An afternoon parade carried the
candles on lavish floats down Beach Road where they were parked near
Walking Street for display. Pedestrians enjoyed the exhibit more than
drivers, however, due to the massive gridlock it caused downtown.
Pattaya School No. 2 won the prize for most beautiful
candle, winning 20,000 baht and an honorary shrine. School No. 9
finished second with 15,000 baht and School No. 1 won 10,000 baht for
third place.
The most-creative candle award went to Pattaya School
No. 8, followed by Schools No. 3 and Photisampan Pittayakarn School.
Pattaya School No. 9 won the candle parade prize worth 10,000 baht with
schools 6 and 2 winning runner-up awards.
At Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, nine candles molded at
the tourist attraction were presented to temples in Sattahip. District
Chief Chaichan Iamcharoen and park director Kampol Tansajja made the
donation to the Sattahip, Nongjabtao, Khaobampenbun, Bangsarae
Kongkaram, Samakkeebanpot, Payub, Amparam, Khao Kantamat, and Najomtien
temples July 15.
Kampol also led Nong Nooch’s candle parade,
highlighted by dancers and elephants.
Blind students also got into the parade at Pattaya’s
Redemptorist School. Principal Aurora Sribuapan led more than 100
students and teachers in a procession to donate candles to Phothisampan
Temple.
Pattaya School #2 won first
prize in the vehicle beauty category during the annual candle parade
down Beach Road.
The blind children engaged in Thai folk dances over
the 1.5 km trek to Phothisampan and did the traditional three laps
around the clock there before formally presenting the candles to the
temple. They also donated nine sets of robes and necessities to monks
there.
Khao Phansa, as the start of lent is known, marks the
formal start of the traditional rainy season where monks are confined to
temple grounds to avoid stepping on new rice crops as they go out to
seek alms.
Donations and food and rice are supplemented this
time of year with candles, to help the monks reach enlightenment as they
stay at the temple studying Dharma.
Nong Nooch always puts on an
elaborate celebration, and this year is no exception.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
leads administrators in molding Buddhist Lent candles at Wat Nong Or.
Monks perform ancient
Buddhist prayers at the Sanctuary of Truth.
