It was a few days stay in remote, charming, Mrauk-U in Rakhine State of West Myanmar. Upon returning from a village hike I encountered a colorful procession, and was told it is part of a Buddhist Ordination of young boys, and the main ceremony is due to take place the following day. I arrived the next day and stepped into a big tent and a courtyard decorated for the exciting ceremony. Many people, old and young, gathered. While some came for the food, many were excited to share this precious moment with the young boys who commence a new way of life. I was invited to sit in front and watch the ceremony carefully. At times I felt a bit embarrassed, a stranger peeping into quite an intimate moment of these boys’ life. But I realized that such ceremony is part of Myanmar culture, and with the smartphones boom in Myanmar, I was not the only one pointing a small camera towards the boys to keep some of these moments.

Video

Photos

Becoming a young novice Buddhist monk in two days…

Young boys under the age of 20 ordain as novice monks (Śrāmaṇeras). As part of the ceremony they vow to follow the Ten Precepts:

– Refrain from killing living things.
– Refrain from stealing.
– Refrain from unchastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust).
– Refrain from lying.
– Refrain from taking intoxicants.
– Refrain from taking food at inappropriate times (after noon).
– Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances).
– Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and garland (decorative accessories).
– Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds.
– Refrain from accepting money.

 

Photos of the other boys and ceremony procedures

Further Reading

Buddhism in Myanmar