The Offering of Flowers at Wat Phra Buddhabat
July 9, 1998
At Wat Phra Buddhabat, Saraburi
The Offering of Flowers is a traditional religious practice of Buddhists in Phra Buddhabat District, Saraburi Province. The ritual of this ceremony has been continuously performed by Buddhists for many generations. It is believed that the Offering of fresh Flowers to Buddhist monks is the action of giving one's worship to Buddh.
The Offering of Flowers at Wat Phra Buddhabat
In the early morning of the first day of the Buddhist Lent, Buddhists in Phra Buddhabat District will gather in the sermon hall in the monastery of Wat Phra Buddhabat Vara Maha Viharn where there offer food to the monks. After that, the worshippers will go too collect a kind of flower called "The Flower of Buddhist Lent", to offer to the monks for merit. The amazing plant, looks like some kind of herb, is one foot tall and blooms only on the Buddhist Lent Day. The Flower can be found in three colors, white, yellow and blue.
The white and yellow flowers are commonly found all around, but the blue one is exceptional as it is found only in some remote hiding place. People believe the more blue flowers they offer, the greater the merit.
The ceremony of the Offering of the Flowers is traditionally performed in the afternoon of the Buddhist Lent Day in the courtyard of the temple, where the Buddhist Worshippers stand in two rows with a two-meter space between then as a passage. The monks then come along this passage to receive the flowers from the people.
On the auspicious occasion of the celebration of the ceremony, the villagers of the District organize folk-dances, folk-music and the art of self-defense using swords and clubs, etc. There is also a parade of the Lent Candles performed by governmenttal organizations, a contesting procession of long-drum folk-dances, and a parade of the Flower Offering, moving along the srteets of the district to the temple. People, led by these joyful parades, proceed to the monastery to offer their flowers to the monks.
The ceremony of Offering the Flowers in Phra Buddhabat District in Saraburi Province is held annually on Buddhist Lent Day, which is the first day of the darkmoon fortnight in the eighth month of the Lunar calendar. Details are provided for those interested at the Office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tel. : (02) 694-1222 (Auto. 90 number); Fax : (66 2) 694-1220, 694-1221
E-mail : tat@cs.ait.ac.th
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