Songkran - Chiang Mai 2551 Part 3 Wat Padaeng

Yesterday Phra Kamphong told us, when we asked what would be appropriate to bring to the temple today for tham boon, that fruit or flowers would be good. Our regular fruit stand man gave us a discount on the bananas and oranges when he found out they were for tham boon. Bop, the manager of our building, got us a tray to bring the offering on. We went into the Viharn, but people very politely told us this was for bringing flowers and the fruit should go in the back.

Most Thais are Buddhists, and the daily offering of food to monks, called tham boon tak bàat, is one of the most important Buddhist acts. Every day throughout the country, in urban and rural communities, Thai Buddhist monks receive their daily food during a practice known as bintábàat. Walking through the streets and paths in the early morning, the monks are met by people offering food. Food is also offered at numerous religious shrines and is an important part of most Thai Buddhist ceremonies. from answers.com

We got pointed to the little pavilion where we were to make the offering. It turned out that Phra Kamphong was the monk there. He asked if we wanted to make our offering - and get our blessings - from the abbott, we declined and said we wanted to make our offering with him. He asked for the people who died we wanted to remember and we wrote down my father and J's parents names. Then we gave him the fruit. He gave me two glasses, one with water, one empty and told me to pour the water from the one to the other while he chanted. These are the people who followed us there.

Making Merit ‑ Tham boon. You will hear Thai people referring to 'boon' or merit. Why is it important to them? It has got to be top priority if they want to move towards enlightenment and improve their lot. Here is how: lead a good life, observe the 5 precepts, be kind, give to the poor, offer food to monks on their early morning round, and donate to the temple. Highest merit points go to those who become a monk or a nun. You can transfer merit to someone else if that is your wish. Thai Buddhists also make merit by visiting the temple on special holidays, see Festivals, their birthday, or any important anniversary. There is no special day for attendance (such as Sunday for Christians). From Pattaya Vacation

...there is also a ritual performed by monks to the relics of the dead in order to pass on merits to them. This ritual is known as Bangsukun Atthi. It will be performed once during the Songkran festival on any of the three days. From ThaiIndian.com

April 15 marks the Thai New Year. This is the most important day of the Songkran New Year celebrations. It is a day traditionally spent making merit and performing charitable acts such as presenting offerings to the monks and listening to sermons, sprinkling holy water on Buddha images and monks, propping up the sacred Bo tree in the temple grounds, and calling on elders to receive their blessings. A bathing ritual is observed in which lustral water is poured over respected elders in a gesture of respect and reverence. The seeking of their blessing or forgiveness for past wrong-doing is also implied. From tat.com.

The rest of the pictures you can breeze through without my commenting.















On our way home, at the bottom of the stairs, just a couple of minutes from home. One last comment on Songkran.

The throwing of water during Songkran is not a mere amusement, but has some connection with the belief of having abundant rain for the coming season of cultivation. According to the popular belief, it rains because the Nagas or mythical serpents sport themselves by spouting water from the ocean. The more they spout the more abundantly the rain will come. The young people continue to sing dance and play games after the last day of Songkran comes to an end, if the rain has not yet begun. from thaiembassy.jp