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.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and friends gather over 100 novice monks in front of City Hall in honor of HM the King’s birthday.
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.
