pakkret happiness

Apart from monks being offered food and supplies, the Thai-Mon elderly are joining in an exhilarating festive dance on the boat. Riverside Merit Making For Mons, every full-moon day of the 11th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (which marks the end of Buddhist lent) is believed to be the period when the Lord Buddha descends from “Daowadueng” heaven to earth. To pay worship to the Lord Buddha, Thai-Mon people in Pak Kret established an impressive religious tradition of Tak Bat Tang Num (putting food in the bowls of the monks who travel by boat and making merit by organizing dazzling waterborne processions.) The tradition can be cited as an evidence to support their reliance upon water and the Chao Phraya River, During this period in the past, monks and followers of each temple would embellish and paddle their boats to a pier, taking food that villagers offered along the riverside. While paddling, they would sing a song “YonYoe”. For temples located far away from a local community, paddling might go further to a boat race which required a manifestation of unity and team spirit. Nowadays, Pak Kret City Municipality aims at preserving Tak Bat Tang Num. However, the tradition has encountered a slight modification to capture modern essence and changes. A boat design contest is held. The area along the Chao Phraya River is decorated to support the festival with local people and those from nearby communities coming to make merit from 6 am – 12 pm, and enjoy the entertainment later in the evening. On Tak Bat Tang Num’s Day, Rama IV bridge reveals the sight of wide-ranging boats gracefully adorned scattering along the river, a huge crowd of people lining up for food offering to monks, and the sound of music. A glimpse of experience reinforces a sense of liveliness, invaluable cultural heritage and, above all, the hearts with overwhelming faith of people »Ò¡à¡Ãç´ ¹¤ÃáË‹§ÇѲ¹¸ÃÃÁ The City Of Happiness 84