The Poy Sang Long is a celebration of Buddhist novice ordination which usually takes place three-day in March or early April of every year in the Thailand’s north-western province in Mae Hong Sorn.
The festival is the custom and tradition of the Tai Yai who migrated from northern Burma Mae Hong Sorn. Tai Yai have a strong t devotion Buddhism, and to follow age-old tradition the young boys between the age of 7 - 14 will be ordain for a period to learn Buddhist doctrince and to gain merit for their parents. It is believed that the tradition is probably to follow in the footsteps of Prince Rahula, the first Buddhist who was the Buddha son own. The young prince gave up his worldly life to follow his father’s spiritual teachings.
The festival is rich colour and display making it a most exciting event that draws residents province to take part. Before in the festival the boys will have heads shaved and then bathed and anointed with special waters. They are dress up in jewel finery and their faces are expertly made up. These boys are known the or “Look Kaew” in Thai.
In the early morning of the first day, the celebration begins with a procession around the town. Accompanying the procession are flutes, lutes, fiddles, drums and cymbals. In the procession, each boy is three one to carry him, another to shelter him from the sun with tall gold umbrella, and the third to guard for jewels. The Boys are led to visit relatives and friends and then join the parent lunch. After have lunch, relatives and the elders will give a tie white thread around to the wrists the boys to protect them from evil . Festival ends the first day of the event.
On the second day this time, the procession includes offer for the Buddha, other for monks and a horse the vehicle of the spirit of the city pillar. In the evening, after having dinner, there is the rite of calling “Kwan” in Thai recitation to prepare the boys for ordination in the following day.
The last day begin procession with the boys to the temple ordination. At the temple, the boys ask permission to be ordained the senior monks. Once the boys then take to change the princely attires to yellow robes and become full novices. The greatest event and end of event.
The Poy Sang Long Festival attracts a large number of Thai tourists and has now become popular among foreign tourists as well.