Thai people's faith in Buddhism is reflected in many rituals and festivals passed on from generation to generation. Among them is Tak Bat Dokmai, a floral offering merit-making ceremony, which coincides with the start of the annual Khao Phansa, or the Buddhist Lent. Tak Bat Dokmai is a unique merit-making ritual held at Wat Phra Buddha Bat, the Shrine of the Holy Footprint, in the central province of Saraburi.
According to Buddhist beliefs, Tak Bat Dokmai is considered highly meritorious, as a legend has it that King Pimpisarn of Rajakruh, an India king who reigned during the lifetime of the Buddha, liked jasmine very much. He ordered his court official to bring him eight handfuls of fresh jasmine flowers each day from the court garden.
One day while the official was gathering jasmine, he saw the Buddha, accompanied by a number of monks, walking around to accept alms given by the general public. He noticed a halo around the body of the Buddha. His faith in the Buddha sprang to life and he decided to present the jasmine collected for King Pimpisarn to the Buddha, even though he realized that he might be executed on the charge of not following an order of the King.
He remained to accept his fate, but fearing more punishment, his wife fled their home. When the King was informed of this story, rather than being angry, he was very glad. So he gave rewards to the flower official in return for his merit and the official lived happily.
The Tak Bat Dokmai floral offering merit-making ritual takes place on the first waning moon day of the eighth lunar month each year. It falls on July 30, 2007 this year. On the morning of the day, local people present offerings and engage in merit-making activities at Wat Phra Buddha Bat in Phra Buddha Bat district.
Later in the morning, young and old people venture out to gather the Dok Khao Phansa, which somewhat resembles the krachai, or turmeric, with flowers in large white, yellow, blue, or blue-violet sprays. This variety of flower is available on the forested foothills near the Shrine of the Holy Footprint. Because it is usually in full bloom during the Khao Phansa period, the flower is called Dok Khao Phansa.
It is difficult to find Dok Khao Phansa in yellow or white, but the violet one is rarely seen, so it is considered even more meritorious to present it to monks.
While going to gather Dok Khao Phansa, young people sing and dance along the way. The group of young people goes one
way, while the older residents go another way. They may make an appointment to meet at the temple, or elsewhere.
As a prelude to the floral merit-making ceremony in the afternoon, a variety of traditional folk games and cultural performances are performed. They include krabi krabong (literally Sword and Staff) and folk songs, followed by a candle procession and the parade of Lenten candles, farm vehicles, long-drum dances, dragon dances, and traditional costumes. This is capped with a procession of Tak Bat Dokmai. Buddhist devotees line up along both sides of the street, forming a long line that extends from the mondop (square structure with a spire) of the shrine.
While the monks are ascending to the shrine, they receive flowers from the people. The flowers are taken to pay homage to the 'Holy Footprint of the Buddha' at the Chulamani Pagoda, where an antique replica of a tooth relic of the Buddha is enshrined. They will also be presented to the nearby great pagoda, which is believed to contain another relic of the Buddha, part of his bone. This great pagoda is comparable to Phra That Phanom in the Northeast, a revered structure that also holds a relic of the Buddha.When the ceremony is completed, the monks walk down from the mondop. The Buddhist devotees waiting outside pour water over the feet of the monks and novices in the belief that in doing so; their sins will be washed away.
While the monks are ascending to the shrine, they receive flowers from the people. The flowers are taken to pay homage to the 'Holy Footprint of the Buddha' at the Chulamani Pagoda, where an antique replica of a tooth relic of the Buddha is enshrined. They will also be presented to the nearby great pagoda, which is believed to contain another relic of the Buddha, part of his bone. This great pagoda is comparable to Phra That Phanom in the Northeast, a revered structure that also holds a relic of the Buddha.When the ceremony is completed, the monks walk down from the mondop. The Buddhist devotees waiting outside pour water over the feet of the monks and novices in the belief that in doing so; their sins will be washed away.