Shan Culture - Social Life

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Sanglong - Novitiation Ceremony

The season’s first novitiation kicks off

25 March 2006 - General - Reporter: Phu Murng

The first Shan novitiation ceremony of the year started yesterday bringing crowds bigger than last year.

The three day celebration began yesterday (24 March) at Ku Tao temple in Chiang Mai city. The neighboring Pa Pao temple will also hold another ceremony early next month.

Apart from Chiang Mai, hundreds of boys will be ordained as novices in Fang and Wiang Haeng districts of Chiang Mai province and in Mae Hong Son also.

“I am very happy to come and join the celebrations,” said Ying Hseng Awng, a Shan woman from Laikha Township.

The event will witness 108 boys ordained as novices and monk. The number of people attending the celebrations and making merits today is estimated at between 3,000-5,000, according to Sai Sai, an organizer. 

“It is wonderful and very interesting, I feel excited,” said Sandy, a tourist from America, who visited the celebration. 

During the daytime, the temple is crowded with friends and relatives of the parents of each novice plus other merit makers.

Nighttime is for merry-makers whose hunger for traditional Shan plays (Zart Hseng), modern concert and impromptu poetry recitation (Kwarm Long) is fullilled by talented entertainers.

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Coutresy S.H.A.N.  www.Shanland.org

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