Young worshippers pray at
Wat Chaiyamongkol in South Pattaya, marking the end of Buddhist Lent on
Tuesday, Oct. 30. Pattaya area residents joined the rest of the Buddhist
world in celebrating Auk Pansaa by going to local temples for
merit-making and commemorating Buddha’s descent from heaven via a
staircase of crystal, silver and gold. (Full story on page 7)
Pattaya-area Buddhists marked the end of Buddhist
Lent by going to local temples for merit-making and commemorating
Buddha’s descent from heaven via a staircase of crystal, silver and
gold.
Auk Pansaa, which fell on Oct. 30, ends the three-month “rains retreat”
monks make inside their temple so as not to trample rice crops during
the rainy season.
It traditionally is followed the next day by ‘Tak Baht Devo’, the
Buddhist merit-making ritual that is performed on the final day of the
festival, which signals the end of the Buddhist Lent.
The word ‘Devo’ originates from the word “Devorohana” and refers to
Buddhist celebrations marking the special occasion of the return of the
Lord Buddha to earth, as mentioned in ancient Buddhist tales. This year
it was celebrated on Oct. 31.
Pattaya residents celebrated the holy weekend by
listening to sermons, presenting alms to monks and releasing birds for
good luck at all area temples. Together they prayed and paid respect to
images of their lord.
The merit-making continued for Devorohana, with believers offering
sticky rice wrapped with banana or coconut leaves to monks before
settling in to hear the story of how Buddha returned to earth after
delivering a sermon for his mother in the Tawatimsa Heaven.
According to Buddhist lore, Buddha’s mother died when he was very young
and, unlike his aunt who raised him, never received the benefit of his
teachings. She was destined to live for eons in the Tawatimsa Heaven
before being reincarnated and continuing her path toward enlightenment.
The lord took pity on her and decided to ascend to heaven to deliver a
sermon that would deliver her into enlightenment quickly.
Following the sermon, the deities who protect all Buddhist temples paid
respect to Lord Buddha by constructing a stairway of gold, silver and
crystal to facilitate his return to earth. His journey down those stairs
and the scene of thousands of heavenly beings paying homage to him along
the way serve as the basis of the Devorohana ceremony.
At Wat Chaiyamongkol in South Pattaya, worshippers gathered to listen to
Phra Mahapichet Rattanapunyo who reminded them to show gratitude and
respect to their parents who raised them with love and care, and who
should be cared for during old age.
At Wat Nong Or in Central Pattaya, Abbot Pravet Dhammawaro told
worshippers, “As you sow, so you shall reap”, saying that people should
realize their mistakes and to turn to themselves, opting to solve their
problems by relying on intellect. He also reminded people that it isn’t
necessary to stop practicing the precepts at the end of lent, and that
they could continue throughout the year.
Citizens offer specially
made Kaotom Hang or tailed sticky rice wrapped to the monks at the Devo
ceremony on Wednesday October 31 morning.
Buddhists pray for
prosperity to oneself and family.
Citizens deliver food and
necessities to Phra Mahapichet Rattanapunyo, abbot of Wat Chaiyamongkol.
Outside the temples,
vendors make sure people who want to make merit have something to donate
to the monks in their favorite temple.
Buddhists visit local
temples for merit-making and worshipping on Auk Pansaa
Buddhists worship Lord
Buddha with flowers, incense and candles asking for blessing and for
prosperity.
Happy volunteers create
sticky rice wrapped with banana and/or coconut leaves in Sattahip.
Monks at Wat Chaiyamongkol
chant prayers and receive offerings in return.
