Temple Fairs

We are told that most temples in Thailand hold a fair at least once a year, with the timing dependent on the lunar calendar.  There have been recent fairs in Khemmarat and in Baan Nong Phue.

Wat Glaang

Mary and George both explored Wat Glaang, a temple in Khemmarat near where we live, and saw preparations underway for the temple fair.  Mary was particularly impressed by the string art.

There was fruit for the monks, a gong, beautiful mats, and strings with wishes for good luck.

 

 

A monk prepared a paw kwan or similar celebratory vessel.

Flags and bunting were everywhere.

 

We had noticed small structures similar to "stupas" (a mound-like structure on temple grounds containing Buddhist relics) on temple grounds and occasionally in other places.  Here are two we noticed at Wat Glaang:

According to Wikipedia, these are "satoops" and contain the ashes of deceased Buddhists, often with a picture.

Wat Pho

More recently, there was a festival at Wat Pho, which is the temple by the riverside pavilion near the center of Khemmarat.  George saw the parade and was invited to the temple to see the activities.

First, monks were praying in the park and students from the high school were there with them.

Then the students unfurled a long banner and began a parade through the center of Khemmarat to the temple.

There was string art also at Wat Pho and an elaborate altar with celebratory vessels like those being decorated by the monk at Wat Glaang.

Elderly monks took turns reading prayers as a few listened and prayed with them.

The altar with the image of the Buddha was decorated.

Preparation was underway for a music and dance performance at the Wat that evening.

On exiting the temple on the north side, one steps onto the riverwalk and sees the beautiful Mekong River.

Temple at Baan Nong Phue

George's colleagues at the Baan Nong Phue School invited him to go with them to the fair at the temple near the school.  (Mary was busy on work at home.)

The road to the temple was lined with pennants.

 The temple is beautiful.

A lot of folks seemed to head to a place where they could buy a chance at a prize; everybody won something.

English teacher Wachinee won an orange drink; math teacher Gob, a food cover and a pillow.

School Director Sutipong took a turn at the microphone.

Just like at many fairs in the USA, there were places for little children to play

and games for their older brothers and sisters (many of them our students).

Girls jumped on trampolines.

Back at school, teachers put bills onto a tree that would be presented later at the temple.

And there was (once again) delicious food, including a delicious dessert wrapped in banana leaves made by the wife of the School Committee Chair.

School Director Sutipong and many of the teachers took the donated money to the temple and presented it to a monk.

The temple fair officially kicked off with a parade from outside town.  As in the case of Wat Pho in Khemmarat, the parade was preceded by monks praying.

Our friend Joe took this picture of George trying to get the right angle on the monks praying.

The monks joined the parade.

An elephant and donkey led the parade (which made George feel like he was back at home in the American political scene),

followed by a long banner.

Folks danced.

There was a big crowd, including our friends Dang, her nephew, and her husband Joe.  Dang is from Baan Nong Phue, but she and Joe lived most of their adult lives and raised their children in West Virginia.  Now they split their time between the two countries.  We were happy they were in Baan Nong Phue while we were there.

Monks waited with a water spray as the crowd entered the temple grounds.

There was a procession around the Ubosot

and more dancing.

Festivities went on into the evening, but George went home to bed.