Over the weekend I went to Uthai Thani, in the lower north of Thailand, for their festival to mark the end of the 3 month Buddhist Rains Retreat.
We arrived at Wat Sangkat Rattanakhiri about two hours before 500 monks were due to walk down these steps from the top of Khao Sakae Krang. This was for the annual merit-making Tak Bat Thewo Festival.
Despite the early hour, there was already 1000′s of people there and more people were arriving all the time. Some people had come when it was still dark just so that they could reserve a good table.
Shortly after 9 a.m. a long line of monks started to descend from the hilltop. Such a beautiful sight. No wonder that this festival is so famous and people come from all over Thailand to take part in it.
At the bottom of the hill, the 500 monks split into 8 groups in order to receive alms from the people standing at the tables. Someone said that there were at least 10,000 people which could very well be true.
- Posted from my iPhone
better than KFC and McDonalds lol but the name...