The wai khru ceremony is a
Thai ritual in which students pay respects to their teachers in order to
express their gratitude and formalize the student–teacher relationship. It
is regularly held near the beginning of the school year in most schools in
Thailand. Wai khru has long been an important rite in the traditional
Schools usually have a ceremony in the morning for the student body to
“wai kru” together. The teachers are called to sit in front of the students as
the students repeat a Buddhist chant and sing a song that demonstrates
their appreciation for the teachers. The students thank the teachers for
having taught well in the past and encouraging their good luck in the
future. A few non‐Buddhist students sat in the back row and only
participated in the presentation of flowers at the end.