Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem

Yesterday as part of Makha Bucha day, there was the Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem, when locals and visitors alike walk around the temple (wien) with a candle (tien) in their hands.

 Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; it was so busy that people had to sit outside the Bot

It's always held at the third lunar month of the year, under a full moon and it was beautiful weather yesterday which attracted many people to the temples around the island, including Wat Plai Laem, our 'home' temple.

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; The early birds or the lucky ones, who still found paces inside the Bot

We arrived around 7.30pm and there was me thinking that we were a bit late. There already plenty of people waiting in front of the Bot, and the Bot itself was maxed out, so many people had to sit behind the Bot and listen to the chanting by the Monks from an excellent PA system. 

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; The chanting Monks

When we arrived, the ceremony was already in full swing. Monks were chanting and this lasted for over an hour and a bit more.

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; part of the crowd during the actual 'Wien Tien'

More and more people kept showing up though and people started to take positions and sit down all along the walls around the Bot. 

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; Blessing by a monk after the chanting and during the actual 'Wien Tien'

An interesting and surprising fact to me was the amount of Westerners visiting this event. Plenty of Westerners with their Thai wives or girlfriends but also Western families seemingly without any Thai connections.

The last time I participated in this event, a few years back, I was pretty much the only Westerner about.

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; More of the crowd

It was a very interesting event, one of my favorite events at the temple, because of it's peacefulness and the opportunity to put flowers and incense at the beloved ones remains at the temple site, around the Bot during a religious holiday. 

Wien Tien at Wat Plai Laem; The full moon watching over the Bot

Hope you had an opportunity to visit as well at one of Thailand's many temples and enjoy this important Buddhist holiday or festival.
I was glad I could join this year and enjoy the event!

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Camille