Poi Sang Long Festival
The traditions of Thai Yai,an ethnic group who migrated from northern
Poi Sang Long,known as the Ordination of Novices,is a three-day celebration of Buddhist novices,ordination held in late March or early Apirl in Mae Hong Son.It is said that the practice of Poi Sang Long probably began in 957 A.D.and has been passed from generation to generation.The Thai Yai people firmly belleve that there is great merit in the ordination of Buddhist novices.Thus,7-14 year-old boys are encouraged to spend some time in the temple as novices.
The day before the event,the candidates,who have had their heads shaven,are bathed and anointed with special water.They are dressed in the style of a Thai Yai prince,and their faces are expertly made up.The most ornamental part of all is the headdress which is decorated with shinning silk and flowers of various shades.These boys are known as "the Jewel Princes"or"Look Kaew"in Thai.
In the early morning of the first day,known as Poi Sang Long Day,thecelebration begins with a procession around the town.Each boy is accompanied by three men:the first to carry him,the second to shelter him from the sun with a tall golden umbrella,and the third to guard the precious jewels.
The boys are taken to visit relatives and friends and then join the communion lunch. After the feast,relatives and the leders tie white threads around the wrists of the boys to protect them from evil spirits.
On the second day,procession consisting of flues,Iutes,fiddles,drums and cymbals is repeated.Offerings for the Buddha,other necessities for monks and a horse symbolizing the vehicle of the spirit of the city pillar are also included in the procession.The boys are taken to the town pillar to seek forgiveness for any sins they may have committed from senior monks and elder relatives.In the evening,there is the rite of calling the spirits known as "kwan"in Thai and a verbal recitation to prepare the boys for the actual ordination on the following day.
The last day of the celebration begins with a lively procession taking the novices to the temple where they are ordained.The boys ask permission to be ordained from the senior monks. After being accepted,the boys take vows and change from their princely attire to yellow robes and thus become novices.
Poi Sang Long Festival attracts a large number of Thai and foreign tourists.Wouldn't you like to come to see this old religious tradition?
จากหนังสือ...”เทศกาล งานประเพณีท้องถิ่น” ระดับมัธยมศึกษา กรมวิชาการ กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ
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