BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) — Buddhist people in provinces traditionally gave alms to monks in the morning to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent period on Oct 13.
In the northern province of Lampang, about 500 Thai people and foreign tourists joined the traditional almsgiving called Tak Bat Devo at Wat Ratana Khuha Tham Pha Kluay in Mae Moh district. A total of 108 Buddhist monks from local temples walked down a 108-stepped Naga staircase to receive alms from people mostly wearing white and yellow clothes.
In the Central Plains province of Chai Nat, more than 1,000 people gave alms to 67 monks and novices who descended 565 stairs from the Khao Thammamul mountain at Wat Thammamul Worawihan. There was also a procession of drum dancers and people in angel, deity and ghost costumes leading a replica of the revered Buddha image Luang Phor Dhammajak of Chai Nat people.
In the northeastern province of Buri Ram, 99 Buddhist monks stepped down along 297 stairs from the peak of the extinct Kradong volcano to receive alms from about 2,000 people at Wat Phra Phutthabat Khao Kradong in Muang district.
Buddhists in Thailand conducted the Tak Bat Devo ceremony a day after the end of the Buddhist Lent period. The ceremony was aimed at marking the belief that Lord Buddha returned to Earth after giving a sermon to his late mother in heaven during a Buddhist Lent period. (TNA)
