Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
and friends gather over 100 novice monks in front of City Hall in honor
of HM the King’s birthday.
Phasakorn Channgam
More than 100 men shaved their heads and donned white
robes to honor HM the King on his birthday.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome presided over the Dec. 1
opening of the city’s annual 10-day monk ordination rite at Pattaya City
Hall. Dressed in white, the 102 aspirants submitted to the haircutting
that marks the first step in the ritual.
As has been done to honor His Majesty for his Dec. 5
birthday, the monks-to-be then attended the Tham-Khwan Naak ceremony
with relatives. Famous country singer Waipoj Phetsuwan lulled the
spirits of ordination, followed by a forgiveness-asking ceremony from
parents, relatives and patrons before presentation of monk robes.
Pattaya then organized a parade for the 102 men
around the city, ending at Jittapawan Temple for the ordination
ceremony.
The next day, all the new monks and their relatives
visited area temples before heading back to Jittapawan to study Dharma
until Dec. 10.
