Over 20 monks from Bunsamphan temple wish luck upon
the citizens attending the merit making ceremony at the end of Buddhist Lent.
Staff Reporters
Buddhists from Sattahip to Pattaya celebrated the end of three months of
lent and welcomed the traditional end of rainy season with offerings of homemade
sweets.
Auk Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent, and the Tak Bat Devo ceremony the
following day are the two-day observance of the end of the “rains retreat,”
where, in olden times, monks remained within temple walls to avoid trampling
rice crops and studied dharma by candlelight. Things have progressed since the
tradition began, but its roots remain pure in spirit. Buddhists welcome the
monks back to society with presentations of meats and desserts.
Pattaya residents eagerly prepared food, sweets, fruits and incense to present
to monks at 41 temples around the city while believers in Sattahip participated
in re-enactments of Lord Buddha’s return to earth from heaven.
Bunsamphan Temple Abbot Visuthipiyakorn said fewer people attended the
end-of-Lent ceremonies this year, particularly the Tak Bat Devo ceremony, due to
the sluggish economy.
Those who did attend offered alms, listened to sermons, studied dharma and
received blessings in hopes of gaining increased prosperity for them and their
families.
The end of Buddhist Lent is always a big affair in hilly Sattahip District.
Plutaluang residents spent two days and nights cooking up 100,000 pieces of kow
tom mud, a sweet treat of sticky rice, banana, black bean, and sugar wrapped in
banana leaves. They brought the food to Khao Baisri Temple for the annual
re-enactment of Buddha’s return, carried out this year by 7 monks and 21
novices, who walked down the mountain to receive alms.
Khao tom mud has become the common substitute for the traditional, but more
expensive, kow tom luk yoni, or sticky rice with coconut leaves. Legend holds
that the coconut leaves, which are heavier, allowed followers who couldn’t get
close to Buddha upon his return to throw their offerings accurately into his
bowl.
Tak Bat Devo, derived from the Sanskrit word “Devorohana,” is celebrated at the
same time as Auk Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent. Almost always centered around
a temple on a hillside, monks who’ve been in their “rains retreat” for three
months emerged in a procession of golden gowns down the hill depicting the path
Buddha took down a “celestial stairway” made of silver, gold and crystal.
According to ancient tales, Buddha returned to his home in Kapilavastu seven
years after achieving Nirvana and becoming the “Enlightened One.” At the start
of Lent that year, in remembrance of his mother, Buddha ascended to the heavens
to deliver a sermon to his mother. There he resided for three months.
On the first day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month - Oct. 9 this
year - Buddha returned to throngs of angels, disciples and followers who
received him with offerings of food and other sacred items. Followers repeated
his return in following years during a ceremony that has come to represent the
Buddhist belief in reincarnation as much as its historical significance.
A similar procession was carried out at Sattahip’s Khao Bampenboon Temple, where
monks carried a statue of Lord Buddha down the mountain on a flower-covered
walkway where people could worship.
In Chonburi’s Ban Bung district, about 500 people turned out for the Tak Bat
Devo ceremony led by Mayor Surasit Kangwolkij, council members and government
workers.
Hundreds of monks received food from the locals who set up tables for food in
anticipation of the monks. They presented rice, dried food and fruit to make
merit and bring about prosperity for their families.
A beautifully crafted candle is still on display at
Bunsamphan temple, Soi Khao Noi.
Monks at Bunsamphan temple, Soi Khao Noi chant to
announce the end of Buddhist Lent.
At Sattahip’s Khao Bampenboon Temple, monks carry a
statue of Lord Buddha down the mountain on a flower-covered walkway where people
could worship.
The Theerarak family makes merit at Wat Chong Lom in
Naklua.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and his family make
merit at Wat Chong Lom in Naklua.
A coffin is set up as donation box to help send off
the diseased without relatives.
Plutaluang residents spent two days and nights
cooking up 100,000 pieces of kow tom mud.
