Buddhists in Thailand start offering alms to monks

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) - Buddhists in Thailand on Sunday (Jul 21) start offering alms to monks throughout the country ahead of the two vital Buddhist religious days -- Asarnha Bucha Day and the Buddhist Lent Day -- which fall on Monday (Jul 22) and Tuesday (Jul 23) respectively. People including tourists lined up along the banks of Sa Kae Krang River in the central province of Uthai Thani province and offered alms to 99 monks from several temples in the province who were travelling by boats. The alms offering was conducted with an aim to restore old tradition in the province and to display that how people there are attached to the river. In Nakhon Pathom’s Sam Phran district, large-sized candles which could light up three months throughout the Buddhist Lent period were offered to monks at Bang Chang Nua Temple. During the procession, businessmen and youths carried placards urging people to refrain from consuming alcoholic drink and stop smoking, a gesture of offering during the Buddhist Lent. Students from several schools in Wiang Kaen district of the northernmost province of Chiang Rai, meanwhile, joined in the candle procession and offered flowers, joss sticks and candles to monks at all the five temples in the district. They also attended preaching at the temples. Tourists while enjoying the current long public holidays offered alms to monks in the northern province of Nan as part of merit-making. Buddhists crowded the more than 800-year-old Phu Min and the Phra That Chae Haeng temples, revered by people, to make merit. A similar scene also took place in the southern district of Hat Yai of Songkhla province as many Malaysian and Singaporean tourists paid worship to the image of Luang Phor Thuad, revered by Thais, especially the southerners, which is being temporarily displayed in the business area of the district. (TNA)