Ordination on Elephant Back
The annual Ordination on Elephant Back is the grandest tradition of Ban Hat Siao. The concept derived from the Vessandon Jataka* narrating that Phra Vessandon gave Patjainaken, the auspicious elephant to Brahmans from another town, resulting in the exile of Phra Vessandon and his family, who later became ascetics in the forests. And on his return journey to the town, he rode on a war elephant.