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Candle parade lights up Buddhist Lent in Sattahip
Patcharapol Panrak
Hoping to provide illumination for monks both physically and
spiritually before they retreat from view for three months, Sattahip
students, city workers and residents showcased a parade of beautiful candles
before presenting them to area temples for Buddhist Lent.
 Sattahip
students, city workers and residents showcased a parade of beautiful candles
before presenting them to area temples for Buddhist Lent.
More than 50 groups took part in the July 3 procession around the Sattahip
Market. The annual parade marks the double holiday of Asalaha Bucha Day and
Khao Phansa, or Buddhist Lent. The ceremony is meant to remind people of the
importance of Thai traditions.
Buddhist Lent, also known as the “rains retreat,” sees monks return to
temple grounds for three months of study and meditation. During this time,
Buddhist followers make merit by supplying monks with food, sweets and other
offerings. Giving candles, lanterns and lights is deemed especially
important, as it is believed they provide monks with illumination physically
and spiritually.
Thus, candle parades are popular all around Thailand. Buddhists gather to
carve their candles and hold competitions to judge which ones are most
beautiful. Most carvings are related to the history of Buddhism and life of
Buddha.
Elaborate designs make for an
eye-catching entry in the parade.
Youngsters of all ages from
local schools take part in the parade every year.
Redemptorist School for the Blind honors
monks with Buddhist Lent candle parade
Drums and cymbals keep the
beat during the parade.
Saksiri Uraiworn
The monks at Photisamphan Temple, like those all over Thailand, this
week retreat to the temple grounds for study and meditation during the
period of “Khao Phansa.” Before they do, students at Pattaya Redemptorist
School for the Blind honored their sacrifice during Buddhist Lent with
special Buddhist candle parade.
 Youngsters
dance their way to the temple.
Principal Aurora Sribuaphan led students and teachers in the July 1
procession, which commemorated the monks’ “rains retreat” that begins each
year on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month. This
year that day was July 8. Monks will remain inside until the 15th day of the
waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month in October.
Traditionally this was done to prevent monks from trampling rice paddies
when venturing out to receive offerings from villagers.
 Despite
being visually impaired, these young dancers perform gracefully.
During this time, Buddhist followers make merit by supplying monks with
food, sweets and other offerings. Giving candles, lanterns and lights is
deemed especially important, as it is believed they provide monks with
illumination physically and spiritually.
With that in mind, students prepared a range of beautifully decorated
candles for the parade, which left the school for the temple at 1 p.m.
Aurora said the school holds the candle parade each year to encourage
students to embrace Buddhism and use the lent period to give up vices and
perform good deeds.
Teachers and students march
together in the Buddhist Lent candle parade.
Pattaya comes together for annual Buddhist Lent candle parade
Pramote Channgam
Lighting the way for monks during their coming months of study and
meditation, Pattaya public officials, students and residents came together
July 3 for the annual Buddhist Lent parade.
 The
parade started on Beach Road at Soi 4 and traveled south to Walking Street.
Participants carved and decorated their candles with scenes from the life of
Buddha. The parade started on Beach Road at Soi 4 and traveled south to
Walking Street, attracting hundreds of Thai and foreign onlookers.
Prizes were given for candle decorating in two categories. Pattaya School 8
won for its depictions of the candle parade while Pattaya School 9 won the
prize for the best expressions of Buddhism’s history. All the winners took
home cash prizes and certificates presented by Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome.
Buddhist Lent, or “Khao Phansa,’ marks the three month period each year when
monks traditionally return to their temples for study and reflection so as
to not trample the village crops during the rainy season. Thus known as the
“rains retreat,” Khao Phansa is also a period in which Buddhist followers
make merit by presenting gifts - particularly lanterns and candles - to
monks to help with their enlightenment.
Pattaya School 8 won first
prize for its depictions of the candle parade.
Floats in the parade use
elaborate floral decorations to highlight the candles.
Participants carved and
decorated their candles with scenes from the life of Buddha.
Scenes from CARAT 2009 Thailand
community relations projects
Senior Chief Hospital
Corpsman Rodney Kelley and Royal Thai Navy Lt. Yutthachai Santong engage in
discussion while fitting eyeglasses for patients during a medical civic
action program at Kiriparawanawan School. Kelley, a Navy Reservist, is in
Thailand to support Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)
Thailand 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Mike Morley/Released)
Lt. Cmdr. Rhonda Brockington
asks a patient questions through a translator as part of a Medical Civil
Action Project here. Brockington is a Naval Reserve physician attached to
Operational Health Support Unit Portsmouth, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Mike
Morley/Released)
A student at Ban Khao By Si
School reads to Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Tyrney Fisher of the dock
landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during a community relations
project. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bill
Larned/Released)
A student at Ban Khao By Si
School, left, offers an English greeting to Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, Commander,
Logistics Group Western Pacific, and Chief Religious Programs Specialist
Tshombe Harris of Commander, Task Group 73.5 during a community relations
project. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bill
Larned/Released)
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class
Tyrney Fisher helps teach English to a student at Ban Khao By Si School
during a community relations project as part of CARAT Thailand 2009. (U.S.
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bill Larned/Released)
Chief Builder Eric Johnson of
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 updates Rear Adm. Nora Tyson,
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, on a new multi-use room being
built at Ban Khao By Si School. The room is part of an engineering civic
action program for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)
Thailand 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in
Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational
readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist 1st Class Bill Larned/Released)
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class
Dimetrius Hopton of the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) offers
basic English instruction to students at Ban Khao By Si School. (U.S. Navy
photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bill Larned/Released)
Ban Khao By Si School
students jump rope with the help of Chief Religious Programs Specialist
Tshombe Harris. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class
Bill Larned/Released)
Chantaburi diocese welcomes first new bishop in 38 years
The new bishop of Chantaburi,
Silvio Siriphong Charatsri.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
For the first time since 1971, the 39,000 Catholics in the Diocese
of Chantaburi have a new bishop.
Father Silvio Siriphong Charatsri, 39, was formally ordained bishop July 4
at Darasamut School in Sriracha. Elected in April, he succeeds Bishop
Lawrence Thienchai Samanchit who served as bishop for 38 years. Charatsri’s
consecration was overseen by Cardinal Michael Meechai Kitbunchou, archbishop
of Bangkok, and Archbishop of Thailand Salvatore Pennacchio.
 Bishop
Silvio is salved with holy oil.
Church leaders and parishioners joined in a procession to open the ceremony.
Mass followed with Charatsri presented with a Bible, bishop’s ring, a
consecrated cowl and a staff to symbolize the task of running the Roman
Catholic Church’s arm in a region covering 4.4 million people.
Charatsri, born Ban Nok Kwaek, was ordained a priest in 1987 and took up
service in Ratchaburi. He was elected bishop of Chantaburi April 4 upon the
age-forced retirement of Samanchit. He is Chantaburi’s third official
bishop, although the district was overseen by a titular see before being
promoted from Vicariate Apostolic to diocese in 1965.
The Chantaburi diocese includes the provinces of Chantaburi, Chonburi,
Prachinburi, Rayong, Sa Kaeo and Trat, as well as the parts east of the Bang
Pa Kong River in Chachoengsao, and Nakhon Nayok except the Ban Na district.
The bishops consecrate the new
bishop.
Charity Club of Pattaya celebrates 5th birthday
Christina Boden
On July 1, 2009 the Charity Club of Pattaya celebrated with friends
and supporters their 5th birthday. The club met with members at the Queen
Victoria Inn on Soi 6, the club’s adopted home, for drinks and a free
buffet.
 (L
to R) Malcolm, Kevin, Vic and Christina huff and puff until all the birthday
candles are blown out.
In those five years, the club has helped many needy people in Pattaya and
around Thailand, from Pattaya to Phuket and Isaan to Chiang Mai. Malcolm and
Christina Boden, the club’s founders say, “Wherever our help is needed in
Thailand, if we can help we will.”
We are a very small club in comparison to other clubs around, so we don’t
mark up millions on each event, but we are honored to be supported by a
great bunch of people here in Pattaya and companies such as the Queen
Victoria Inn, Expat Financial Services, Alan Bolton Property Consultants,
Cranes and Equipment Asia, U.T.S. Tryba, Blue Wave, Northern Thai Realty,
Massic Travel and C.S.P. Construction to name a few. We shouldn’t forget to
mention Ingo Raeuber, G.M of the Pinnacle Grand Resort and Spa, and Ivor
Rai, G.M. at the All Season’s Hotel for their help and support throughout
the last year.
We have just finished some projects in Isaan, but while we were visiting to
see the final products, we happened upon a few more! So we still have many
on going projects in Isaan.
We will struggle a little this year as normally we have our annual Charity
Gala Dinner Draw and Auction towards the end of the year, which helps
tremendously with our projects, with the current climate we have decided not
to hold one this year. Hopefully things will improve and we will be back
with a bang next year.
Since the last birthday, we are pleased that we have, with the help of club
friends and supporters, raised 727,258 baht, and since the formation of the
club in 2004, we have raised and spent 3,353,500 baht, which isn’t bad for a
committee that consists of Malcolm and Christina Boden (founders) and
treasurer Vic King Queen Victoria Inn.
The next event on the club’s calendar is on Saturday August 22 at the
Pinnacle Grand Resort and Spa Na Jomtien, which will be a beach party
commencing at 7 p.m. Ticket price is 1,200 baht which includes free flow red
and white wine, beer and soft drinks, Thai and international buffet and live
music by the band SY. Please contact Christina on 084 2124144897 Malcolm on
089 5454185 or email charityclub [email protected].
Friends and supports of the
Charity Club of Pattaya gather
for a group photo to commemorate the club’s 5th birthday.
Rotary Clubs in Chonburi install
new presidents at two grand ceremonies
Pratheep Malhotra
Photos: PM reporters
The installation of presidents and directors of Rotary Clubs for 2009-10
continued into the latter part of June when 9 Rotary clubs in Chonburi held
their annual ceremonies and celebrations.
 A
happy moment as DG Peter installs Maria Suwattana as President of the Rotary
Club of Chonburi.
District Governor Pratheep Malhotra (2008-09) and District Governor Siri
Eiamchamroonlarp (2009-10) officiated at both events, the first of which was
held at the Sriracha District Municipal Hall on June 23, which saw the
following Rotarians installed as president of their clubs: Maria Suvatthana,
president of the Rotary Club of Chonburi; Wiwat Sirichatchai, president of
the Rotary Club of Pattaya; Chanchai Weerasombat, president of the Rotary
Club of Sriracha, Jureerat Kitkasetkul, president of the Rotary Club of
Banbung, Prakit Saranpruk, president of the Rotary Club of Panas Nikom, and
Saroj Sangsamritsakul serves a second term as president of the Rotary Club
of Laem Chabang.
The following day at the See Fah restaurant in Sattahip the Rotary Clubs of
Sattahip, Plutaluang and Banchang installed Amorn Kwatra, Chokchai
Muenthamai, and Dr. Atithep Chariyawetwatana as presidents of their
respective clubs.
 District
Governor Siri Eiamchamroonlarp emphasises that “The future of Rotary is in
your hands”.
At both ceremonies, DG Pratheep awarded the Paul Harris Fellow to many
Rotarians and members of the community for their extraordinary efforts and
contributions, both financially and in kind, whereby helping Rotarians to
carry out service projects for the betterment of lives in our community and
around Thailand. He said, “Awarding someone with a Paul Harris Fellow is the
highest honour that Rotary can give to a person. It is a symbol of our deep
gratitude and great respect for your support to Rotary, and to our great
works of service and charity.”
The Rotary Foundation District Service Awards were also presented to
Rotarians who dedicated their lives to doing humanitarian work to reduce the
rate of child mortality in the world.
 Chokchai
Muenthamai newly installed President of the Rotary Club of Plutaluang
addresses the gathering.
DG Peter said, “At the beginning of the Rotary year in July 2008, more than
30,000 children under the age of 5 died of preventable causes, but now
because of our efforts in giving children clean water, health care,
alleviating their hunger and a decent education, the number of child deaths
has been reduced to less than 25,000. We did what we set out to do, we Made
Dreams Real for the world’s children by giving them a chance to a future.”
DG Siri went on to say that he would encourage Rotarians to continue to do
the good work of saving children’s lives and asked Rotarians to assist him
in doing so. He said that through Rotary a lot of good work can be done. He
introduced Rotary International President John Kenny’s theme for 2009-10
which is, “The future of Rotary is in your hands”. He said, “The theme
emphasises the fact that Rotarians must continue to work even harder to
strengthen our organisation so that we may continue to Do good in the
world.”
DG Peter thanks his Assistant
Governor
Donald Maclachlan for a job well done.
DG Peter congratulates old
friend Amorn Kwatra
on his installment as President of the Rotary Club of Sattahip.
Krisana Boonpuan presents a
bouquet of flowers to Premjit,
spouse of President Amorn Kwatra.
President Sanit Boonpuan,
Rotary Club of Sattahip and President Chaweewan Adinan accept the Rotary
International Presidential Citation for their respective clubs’ outstanding
achievements during the 2008-09 Rotary year from DG Peter.
DG Peter thanks and presents
the Distinguished Service Award to the two most outstanding Rotarians who
helped him perform his duties effectively throughout the year. Past
Assistant Governor Onanong Sripornmanut (left) and Charter President Sumon
Jaikid (right) who served as District Secretary and as District Treasurer
respectively.
The newly installed Rotary
Club presidents stand proudly wearing their new badges of office. They were
joined on stage by past, present and future district governors.
Buddhists celebrate
Asalaha Bucha Day
Saksiri Uraiworn
Crowds of Buddhist followers dressed in white marked this year’s
Asalaha Bucha Day with enthusiasm if not quite the same quantity of
offerings as in better economic times.
 Buddhists
make merit and offer food to monks.
Elderly Thais made up the majority of believers at Chaimongkol Temple, many
dressing in white in observance of the day marking Buddha’s first sermon.
The mood was festive overall with many families making merit together.
As usual, food was the offering of choice. But in a sign of a slow economy,
people seemed to have cut back on preparing lavish dishes at home and
instead bought already-prepared and less-expensive food outside the temple.
Asalaha Bucha falls on the 15th night of the full moon during the eighth
month of the Buddhist lunar calendar, or, this year, July 7. It’s deemed a
holy day because of three important events occurring on the day: the first
sermon given by the Buddha, called the “Dharmachakapavattama Sutta”
concerning the “Four Noble Truths” presented to the Buddha’s first five
disciples; the birth of Buddhism; and the Sangha, or the ordination of the
first Buddhist monk.
Buddhists make merit on
Asalaha Bucha Day.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay
leads children in making Buddhist Lent candles.
Pattaya Buddhists observe
traditional precepts.
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