Every year in Saraburi Province, Thailand, there is a tradition of offering flowers to monks to start off the Buddhist Lent Season. Only one type of flower is used and it is called the 'Dancing Lady Ginger' flower. Funny name isn't it? You might wonder why it is called it. Well, it is because the little flowers that varies in 3 colors (white, yellow, or pink) 'dances' with even the slightest breeze, it looks as if it is dancing. Since this type of flower if in the ginger family of plants, it has ginger in its name. Dancing Lady ginger is a native flower here in Thailand and it only blooms once a year-- which happens to be the time during the Buddhist Lent (August-Novbember).
Since it is a tradition that happens only once a year in Saraburi Province, hundreds of people from in Saraburi province and also other places throughout Thailand would come together to participate in this tradition because as I mentioned, this tradition marks the start of the Buddhist Lent, which is an important 3 months for Buddhists all around the world. This year there were over 3,000 monks that came to receive flowers and non perishable goods from the hundreds of people.
As for myself, since I didn't grow up in Thailand, I didn't know that there was such thing as offering flowers to monks. I'm glad that I was able to come and participate in it as well.
Another cool thing about this event was that not only did we get to offer flowers, but we also offered non perishable goods that will be sent to the 4 southern bordering provinces of Thailand to help aid people and monks living in those provinces. There has been many bombings and hardships that has taken place in those provinces for many years now and it is a good thing that we can give food to help those living in the south.