Poi Sang Long Festival 22 Mar. 2024 (Evening) at Wat Ku Tao (Ku Tao Temple) Chiang Mai, Thailand

The Poi Sang Long Festival (ปอยส่างลอง) takes place each year between March 20 and mid-April in many temples in North Thailand. It is in fact a ceremony with a festive character. The Shan-temple Wat Ku Tao is currently the only temple in the city of Chiang Mai where they organize this ceremony. In the past there was a Poy Sang Long ceremony in Wat Pa Pao, another Shan temple close by.

The festival is essentially Shan or Tai Yai and means “ordaining the beloved sons”. Boys of 12 years and older enter the temple to be ordained as novice monks. They will learn the tenets of Buddhist teaching and the self-discipline required of a monk. After being ordained, they will stay in the monastery for a time that can vary from a week to many months or more. Usually, a large group of boys is ordained at the same time. Wat Ku Tao usually has more than 50 boys involved in this ceremony. Around Chiang Mai, there are lots of local temples that organize similar but smaller ceremonies.

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