Elephants from Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village in Surin’s Tha Tum district join a traditional monk ordination procession. PHOTO: TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
The ordination procession on elephant-back is over 200 years old. The Kui people usually arrange a mass ordination ceremony for their sons when they turn 20 and believe the ordination will bring fame and good fortune if the monks-to-be ride on the backs of elephants while joined by at least 1,000 people in a grand procession. On the important day, novices- or monks-to-be will be taken by the procession of elephants to Wang Thalu stream (where the Chee and Moon rivers meet) and then ordained on an island called Don Buad. This ceremony is held on the three days of the full moon (13th, 14th and 15th) in the sixth month of each year so that new monks practise dharma during the Buddhist Lent.
This year, the ordination procession on elephant-back will take place at Elephant Village in Tha Tum district of Surin province from May 3 to 5, according to Boonyanuch Wannaying, director of the TAT’s Surin office.
The objectives are to honour Their Majesties the King and Queen, conserve local culture and traditions, as well as promote tourism in Surin province. Activities will include the ordination ceremony, the chanting and grand parade of more than 100 elephants, the monks-to-be and the local villagers, as well as entertainment at night.
Thai men above the age of 20 who are interested in entering monkhood and would like to be a part of the annual ceremony can apply to the Provincial Administration Organisation or the Elephant Village from now until May 2.