NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: About 1,000 Buddhist Malaysians visited this southern province on Saturday to take part in an annual ordination and other ceremonies, part of a tradition that began a century ago.
The Malaysians from Penang, Kedah and Perlis states arrived in dozens of vehicles including buses at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Muang district for the ceremonies in which 50 young Malaysians entered either the monkhood or Buddhist practice as nuns.
The ceremonies included a procession and donations. New monks and nuns will then return to continue to practise at Buddhist temples in their homeland.
Buddhist Malaysians also believe that worshiping at the main pagoda of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan will bring them good luck and a peaceful life.
Sakol Chantharak, deputy governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, said the annual ordination ceremony also gave local tourism a lift, and Nakhon Si Thammarat people felt as if the visitors were relatives.
"Buddhist Malaysians have continued with this activity for a century," he said. "They bring young relatives for ordination and worship in the main pagoda which is a place of worship and a centre of Buddhism."
Malaysian people also study Buddhism and the Thai language at Buddhist temples in Kedah, he added.