In Thai language, ทำบุญกระดูกบรรพบุรุษ translates to Make Ancestral Bones. Personally, I would be inclined to call it the ‘Ancestral Bones Ceremony,’ but I’m not going to make any bones about that, lol. Not surprisingly, this somewhat bizarre event took place during a visit to Buriram, as things often do when you’re seemingly bored in Buriram. […]
Continue ReadingSpirituality
Dancing to The Temple
It’s not street dancing as we know it, it’s not dancing in the street as we know it. This is more of a procession, a dancing procession, on the way to the neighborhood temple in Buriram, Northeast Thailand. Among the procession are members of my wife’s family, extended family and friends, and their heading to […]
Continue ReadingIs Thailand a Land of Ghosts
Do you believe in ghosts ?. If you are Thai I’m certain you will answer yes, I believe in ghosts. If you are a westerner I guess you will most likely dismiss ghosts and belief in the spirit world as pure twaddle. As a westerner living in Thailand you will also be aware that Thai […]
Continue ReadingRaising the Chofah
So far as I know the “Yohk Chofah” (Raising the Chofah) ceremony must be performed during the construction of every Buddhist temple in Thailand. Yohk Chofah ceremony is performed when the Chofah is raised to the temple roof and secured to the gable of the roof. What is a Chofah ?, If you have ever […]
Continue ReadingThailand Deities: Phra Rahu
Phra Rahu is worshiped at many temples throughout Thailand, the most famous of which is Wat Srisathhong in Nakhon Pathom Province. Phra Rahu was formerly a Demon God who the Thais believe took the form of a serpent, these days at temples he takes a more demonic human form. Colored black, with only an upper […]
Continue Reading