Teachers and students from Pattaya’s 11 public schools will join more than 1,000 monks in the final leg of a Buddhist pilgrimage through seven provinces.
Education Department Director Wannapa Wannasri hosted a preparation meeting for Saturday’s excursion at Bangkok’s Bangwuay School. Both teachers and students have been invited to attend and sprinkle flowers, rose petals and holy water along the route of the sojourning monks.
Education Department Director Wannapa Wannasri heads a preparation meeting for local teachers and students to join the final leg of a Buddhist pilgrimage through seven provinces.
The “Dhammachai Dhutanga” pilgrimage is being held for the second time, with monks walking on a rose-petal covered route through Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Suphanburi, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, and Bangkok, a distance of 446 kilometers.
A smaller number of monks participated in a similar walk at the end of 2011 to raise funds and bring relief to flood victims.
This year, the walk is described as a trek to allow monks to rid themselves of lust and follow tradition. Buddhist followers along the route will offer alms, food, lamps and other items each day. This year’s trek began Jan. 2.
Citizens sprinkle marigold petals on the rose way during the “Dhammachai Dhutanga” pilgrimage. (Photo from www.dmc.tv)
Teachers from Pattaya schools go over final preparations for the event.
