OBSERVING THE ALMS GIVING CEREMONY, FOR THE SECOND TIME

7th DECEMBER 2016 ~ I had to go to the market early in the morning on the last day of my stay in Luang Prabang as I decided to bring some local fruits home. Then I saw the monks walking to collect their alms from people at the road side. I was excited as I could observe them closer compared to the first time.

Some rules to be observed while watching the alms giving ceremony are:

(1) Do not stand too close to the monks or the alms givers.

(2) Do not use flash lights when taking photos.

(3) Do not make any noise. This should be a religious event, not a party.

This time, I saw the monks putting a few of the alms they received into the bags of two children who were waiting for them by the road side. I wonder whether these kids came from a poor family (as they looked like siblings).

So that should wrap up my 4D3N trip to Luang Prabang. I am glad that I chose this town as my holiday destination with my two friends. Things slowed down for you here and it was a relaxing and stress-free getaway (minus the trekking and climbing part). I just hope things will remain the same there for many more years to come.

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THE ALMS GIVING CEREMONY IN LUANG PRABANG ~ DAY 3

6th DECEMBER 2017 ~ The daily routine of giving alms to the barefooted Buddhist monks clad in their orange robes very early in the morning has forced many visitors to wake up even before the sun rises just to witness the event. We were already wide awake by 5:00 a.m. and then at about 5:30 a.m. we heard drums being beaten from far away. We went to the main road near to the hotel and by that time, there were already people on the streets. Generous donors were already seated by the roadside while entrepreneurs were busy looking for prospect buyers to the packets of snacks that would be surrendered to the monks.

Not long after that, the monks arrived - walking in one straight line and they stopped in front of the people who put their alms in the containers the monks were carrying.

There were many groups of monks, and most probably they belonged to different monasteries there. They came from different directions and walked away quickly once they received the alms. I could see that most of the monks were young boys but each group was led by someone who looked more elderly.

There was a group of young foreigner who were there to join in the alms giving ceremony, rather than just observing.

If you wonder, what was given to the monks, surprisingly people donated snacks that could be bought from the street vendors but there were also other food items. However, that does not mean the monks eat all the snacks and that does not happen as all of them looked really slim and fit. I read somewhere, the items given would then be sold back to the shops and the monasteries would get their money. But correct me if I am wrong.

On the last day of my stay in Luang Prabang, I managed to witness this ceremony nearer and clearer when I went to the market place.

"Kindness in words creates confidence,

kindness in thinking creates profoundness,

kindness in giving creates love."

~ Lao Tzu ~

TO BE CONTINUED...

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