Abbots of temples in Bangkok are chanting and praying at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, while the abbots of all the temples in the kingdom, about 30,000 temples in all, are leading prayers in their own temples at the same dates and times.
In the Pattaya City temples, Thammasamakkee Temple, Phothisamphan Temple and Chaimongkol Temple, members of the public gathered along with the monks.
At Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya, apart from the Buddhist priests, about 100 people chanted and prayed. At Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan, more than 300 volunteer rescue workers gathered with members of the public who were attending the vegetarian festival to pray for His Majesty.
On October 18 at Pattaya City Hall, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn led Pattaya City Councilors in prayer for His Majesty in front of the King Taksin Monument. Pattaya residents have also held ceremonies in their own homes and attended other temples in the city environs.
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Today marks end of Buddhist Lent
Devote Buddhists throughout Thailand mark the end of Buddhist Lent today, October 26. The holiday, called Auk Pansa or Tak Bat Tay-Wo, has long been a Thai tradition.
During the two days of celebration, Buddhists go to their local temples to make merit; alms are presented to monks in the morning, offerings are made to monks in general, making merit is done at the temple, and people listen to the Tay-Wo sermon (an event where food is given to monks).
Temples throughout Banglamung and Pattaya will be crowded, especially Photisamphan Temple, Sawangfa Phutaram Temple, Chaiyamongkhol Temple, Nong Yai Temple, and Nong Or Temple.
Devotees bring kaotom harng or kao tom lookyon, which is symbolic of Tay-Wo, to give to the monks early in the morning. People believe that this will bring luck and prosperity to themselves and their family.
The end of the Buddhist Lent is always on the increasing full moon on the 15th day of the 11th month, in or around October each year. It is the last day the priests have to remain in the temple after residing there for the 3 months of the rainy season.
The monks must make Sangkakam (religious services) on what is called Maha Pawarana Day (Day of service). This is when the monks gather to assess each other’s behavior and to receive council. The abbot conducts discussions and a questioning session with lower ranking monks. This Pawarana, one of the priest’s behaviors, is done to replace praying Patimok (priest rules), which is done every 15 days during Buddhist Lent.
For Tay-Wo, giving food is done on the decreasing full moon on the 1st day of the 11th month, one day after the end of the Buddhist Lent. As the story goes, Buddha went up to heaven to give a sermon to his mother and stayed 3 months during the Buddhist Lent, then came back to earth at Sangkassa Nakorn City.
This second coming down from heaven is called Dawadung. In the old days the Buddhists waited to give food, and the tradition has continued and is still practiced today.
The kaotom harng story came from a day when the temple was crowded and some couldn’t give food to the priests. Therefore kaotom harng was made to put as offerings into a priest bowl. Offerings are made from sticky rice and covered with a coconut leaf, and the offering has a long tail, which is good for throwing. They believe that this will bring the greatest fortune, and this tradition has continued, too.
The tradition of Buddhist Lent, or the annual three-month Rains Retreat known in Thai as Phansa, dates back to the time of early Buddhism, when all holy men spent the season in permanent dwellings, avoiding unnecessary travel at a time when crops were still new for fear they might accidentally step on young plants.
To this day, monks stay in a temple of their choice and will not travel outside until Lent is over.
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