Nourishing Buddhism

Nourishing Buddhism

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Nourishing Buddhism

In mid-September, the northern province of Lamphun is holding a very colourful ceremony.

From Sept 14-16, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is hosting the Salak Yom ceremony, which is an important ceremony for the Yong people, the ethnic minority of Lamphun.

Like most Lanna people, Yong devote themselves to nourish Buddhism. Yong have a colourful way of marking the end of the Buddhist Lent season.

They celebrate the occasion by building bamboo structures, some nearly 20m-tall, using strips of the wood that are dyed and to which they tie offerings for monks -- snacks, candles, cigarette, matches, utensils, dry foods, robes, money and other items. The building process may take a week or two to complete.

The structures -- called Salak Yom, meaning "dyed tree of gifts" -- are part of the Salak Phat rites native to the northern provinces of Thailand in which monks and novices at local monasteries receive gifts from local people delivered via a lucky draw.

The Yong, however, perform the rites for a different reason. Every year they build about 20 of these structures at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in the provincial heart of Lamphun.

The tradition of making Salak Yom structures is symbolic of Yong girls who turn 20, the marriageable age. Before getting married, they use their savings to build the tree to showcase their patience, effort, handicraft skills and devotion to religion. The dyed strips at the end of bamboo structures are meant to lend colour, hence the name.

The Buddhists can also offer Salak Yom to show their devotion to the religion. Some Buddhists group up and build Salak Yom together, in order to make merit for themselves or the ones they love. Tourists are always welcome to participate in decorating the Salak Yom as well as in the merit making ceremony; polite attire is recommended.

This year, besides the colourful ceremony, there will be different activities held at the same time, such as cultural shows, traditional music and a flea market featuring local cuisine.

The Salak Yom ceremony will be also held by other temples in Lamphun, on different days, on a smaller scale. Normally, the ceremony will be held before the full moon day of September.

Wat Phra That Hariphunchai is situated in downtown Lamphun, 20km south of Chiang Mai city, or 670km north of Bangkok. You can get there via Highway 1.

-- Peerawat Jariyasombat


Call the TAT office in Chiang Mai on 053-248-604 or Lamphun's cultural office on 087-714-4448.

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