Rare ceremony marks end of Buddhist Lent

This year's three-month Buddhist Lent ends on Oct 30 (the 11th lunar month's full-moon day). To mark the occasion, a rare ceremony called Takbart Khao Tom Luk Yon will take place in Saraburi and Lop Buri on Oct 31 and the country's only Rub Bua ceremony will be held in Samut Prakan on Oct 29. From tomorrow until Oct 29, Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district will host the Rub Bua (Presentation of Lotus Flowers) ceremony, an age-old tradition of Thai people of Mon descent. One day before the end of Buddhist Lent, Buddhists in the area bring lotus blossoms in a boat procession along Samrong canal from Bang Phli District Office to the temple to worship Luang Phor Toh, the temple's principal Buddha statue. Parnjit Santhadkollakan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Bangkok office which also oversees Samut Prakan, said ''the Rub Bua ceremony is also a good occasion for tourists to make merit, pay respects to the Buddha and experience this exquisite tradition that reflects the ties of Thai, Lao and Mon people living there''. The visitors will witness merit-making and other activities, such as alms-giving to monks on boats, chess games using people instead of chess pieces and demonstrations of local people's lifestyles and performances. A highlight will be a visit to the 155-year-old Bang Phli Market. According to Parnjit, the event is expected to attract many tourists and bring in over 100 million baht from the sale of local products and hospitality services. These activities will take place at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai and in front of Bang Phli District Office. Chonsawat Asavahame, president of the Samut Prakan Provincial Administration Organisation, suggested tourists join special activities on the last day, such as presenting lotus flowers to the Buddha statue from 7-9am. Every day, there will be six light-and-sound shows alongside the canal which people can watch from boats. Throughout the four-day festival, they can enjoy shopping for popular One Tambon One Product (Otop) goods at Bang Phli Market and watch a luk thung (Thai folk music) contest and concerts by The Star, AF and RS music house's singers and some stars from Channel 7. Also, there will be water boxing, khon mask dances and traditional music performances by local students. On Oct 27 a khao tom mud (sticky rice with banana filling) wrapping contest will take place from 10am-noon in front of the district office, while a khao tom mud eating contest will be held on the final day from 11am-12.30pm. On Oct 28, there will be a boat race which starts at 10am. On the following day, a boat decorating contest will take place from 10.30-11.30am in front of Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai. Visitors can also submit pictures taken during the festival to a contest offering prizes worth up to 50,000 baht in total. Contact the TAT's Bangkok Office on 02-250-5500 ext 2994/6, or Bang Phli District Local Administration Office on 02-337-4059. Meanwhile, the Takbart Khao Tom Luk Yon ceremony will be held at two temples in Lop Buri and Saraburi on Oct 31. According to legend, a great crowd was waiting to give alms to the Lord Buddha, who was returning from visiting his mother in heaven. However, the area was so overcrowded that people could not approach the Lord Buddha and instead had to throw food into his alms bowl. In memory of that incident, Buddhists bring khao tom luk yon (sticky rice steamed in coconut milk wrapped in coconut or pandan leaves) to give alms to monks at the end of Buddhist Lent. At Wat Khao Phra Ngam, in Lop Buri, the ceremony will begin at 8am.