Thailand for farang

Tak Bat Devo Festival

Tak-Bat-Devo-banner

Tak Bat Devo will be held on the 3rd of October in 2020. Tak Bat Devo or ตักบาตรเทโว in Thai is the biggest festival of the year in Uthai Thani. It takes place the day after Wan Oak Phansa . Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri is famous for the Tak Bat Devo festival. People from all over Thailand visit Uthai Thani for this festival and I think it is worth it!

I got there at 7:45 in the morning, but I knew the festivity was only going to start at 9 am. I was told I had to go early if I wanted a good spot to donate food to the monks. Although I didn’t want to donate food to the monks, because I wanted to take pictures, I got there early. I’m short, I didn’t want to stand in the back.

It was worth getting up early this time as I had awesome spots right in front of the stairs. But if I don’t need to take pictures you will find me there at 8:55.

Tak-Bat-Devo-girls

After 8:30 it was getting extremely crowded. I was glad I was standing in the front. At 9 am the ceremony started with a Buddhist prayer. Little girls dressed in traditional clothing went up the stairs to welcome the monks who soon would descend.

Tak-Bat-Devo-Festival

Resembling the buddhist myth hundreds of monks descended from the stairs as the Lord Buddha did when he returned from his visit to his deceased mother in Tavatimsa Heaven. It was an amazing sight.

Tak-Bat-Devo-monks-descend

Legend goes that the villagers were delighted when the Buddha returned so they offered him food. This event was called ‘Tak Bat Devo Rohana’ which later was named Tak Bat Devo.

Tak-Bat-Devo-monks

Once the monks are descended, they walked to the tables where people were standing in line to offer the monks food.

Tak-Bat-Devo-fence

Hayden Del Rey and Tatum Berardi, two of our friends, have been standing in line in the sun since 7:45 to offer food to the monks. A lot of respect for those two foreigners to stand that long in the heat to be part of this Buddhist tradition. As it is a breathtaking experience I think it was all worth it.

Tak-Bat-Devo-donate

A little after 10 am most people left the site already. At 10:30 there was a parade starting at the bus station going to the city center. There were not many people there. Probably because it was very hot and there was so little shade at the busstation. And to me it seemed like most people cared more about the decorated stands with the elephant tooth display than for the parade. For me it is an error in my head to support that, but for them it is just part of the tradition.

Tak-Bat-Devo-elephant-tusk Display of elephant tusks

The parade was divided in districts. Every district was represented with beautifully dressed people in traditional clothing holding the a banner with the district name. Some districts played music, some had a beautifully decorated wagon, some danced, and so on. There were elder people and very young children attending the parade. The youngest kids in traditional clothing are so cute they even melt my heart.

Tak-Bat-Devo-parade

Tak-Bat-Devo-roundabout

It was a nice parade, but the highlight of the day was of course the morning ceremony. It was very impressive! If you are in Thailand during Tak Bat Devo and you want to experience a real Buddhist ceremony accessible for everybody, you should really come to Uthai Thani. It is a great experience!

Tak-Bat-Devo-Uthai-Thani

Tak Bat Devo occurs every year in october the day after Wan Oak Phansa. In Uthai Thani it takes place at Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri and starts at 8:40 with Buddisth prayers.

Click here for the Google Directions.

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