The vibrant tradition of ordination including an elephant parade carrying the novice monks is held mostly on the 13th-15th day of the waxing moon of May (around mid of May) at Wat Chaeng Sawang, Ban Ta Klang, Amphoe Tha Tum. Local Thai, Khmer, Laotian, and Suay families, all of whom are Buddhist, wish their sons to enter monkshood and study the dhamma, the teachings of Buddha. Such has been the way for centuries, but the unique way the locals celebrate the tradition earns lots of interest from outside the region as it has been practiced for generations and it’s an amazing sight to behold.
The ordination of many monks at the same time, particularly those who are paraded atop elephants’ backs brings great merit for all families. The elephant parade is comprisesd of more than 50 elephants crossing Moon River. Making the event all the more spectacular, all participants dress up beautifully with mudmee silk. The men entering monkshood will then have their heads shaved, pay homage to the Chao Pho Wang Thalu Shrine, and then begin the ordination.