Lanna Happenings

VISAKABUCHA CELEBRATIONS IN BAN NGAO

May 13th was Visaka Bucha Day here in Thailand. The date changes according to
   the lunar cycle and is figured as the full moon day of the 6th lunar month - usually
   falling in May. The celebration is one of the most important in the annual Buddhist
   calendar as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, events
       which are believed to have occurred on the same day of the same month.
       Visaka celebrations began in Thailand about 700 years ago during a period
       of active exchanges of monks from Sri Lanka and Thailand.

   This years celebration was centered on a That or Chedi located on a hill only a few
   hundred meters from Lanna Thai Villa. Nineteen villages or muban were invited.
   Preparations began several days in advance with groups of workers clearing the
       grounds, painting buildings and placing ceremonial flags or tung and placing them
       along the approaches to the That. In addition villagers prepared donations and
       constructed "money trees" to carry the offerings to be presented at the ceremony.
       Some villages formed dance groups to provide traditional entertainment. Given
       that the event would draw hundreds of participants who would need to be fed many
       people cooked food to donate for free distribution as a way of making merit. The
   event began with participants parading to theThat with offerings and tung.
       Offerings included flowers, joss sticks and candles all symbolic of lifes
       impermanence as flowers will wilt and candles and joss sticks will burn out.

   There were several aspects to the days events. One, a saloong nam that or the
       washing of the That with scented water (nam san poy). A large container was set up
       and a pump and hose system would transport water placed into the container to the
       top of the That where it would drain down over the structure. This activity was symbolic
       of cleansing bad Karma. Prior to the ceremony day a string had been placed from
       the principal Buddha image in the prayer hall down and around the entire village
       with offshoots going to each home which in turn may have been surrounded with
       the string or perhaps only an offshoot would go into the home's Buddha image. In
       the prayer hall an overhead lattice of strings was placed prior to the ceremony.
       The lattice was also connected to the principal Buddha image. Hanging down
       from the lattice were strings which could either be draped on the participants
       shoulders or wrapped around their head. In this way both the village and the
   individual participant could directly receive the blessings from the monks chanting
       which were to invoke peace and happiness for all concerned. Further merit was
       gained via the cash and food donations. Prior to the chanting villagers presented
   traditional Lanna style dances. Circulating in the crowds during the day were lottery
       ticket sellers hoping to make sales from some o0f the many attendees.The day
       ended with lam vong dancing.