Visiting a Thai Temple People don't visit temples often, certainly not every
week. It is usually only the elderly people who will go to the temple on wan phra or holy days (these are set by the phases of the moon and do not fall on the same day each week). However, most people will visit the temples on special occasions such as their birthday, the death of a relative or during important religious festivals.
Buddhists visit temples to make merit, make an offering, listen to sermons and to take part in candle lit processions around the main chapel.
People make m
erit by giving the monks food, robes or other basic essentials. In the picture to the left you can see a typical bucket of supplies that can be bought for monks. The contents include: soap, toothpaste, medicine, tea bags etc. There is also an orange robe. In every temple there is a place where you can buy offerings for the shrine in front of the Buddha image. The offerings include candles, lotus flowers and incense sticks. As they make the offering they chant or say a prayer.
In candle processions on important religious holidays, people circle the temple three times in a clock-wise direction, usually holding a lotus flower, three incense sticks and a lighted candle.
How to Behave in a Temple
If you ever visit Thailand you will need to know some strict rules on how to behave in a temple. If you are an adult you must be dressed properly. You should not wear shorts or if you are a woman, wear short skirts. When you go inside any building you must take off your shoes first outside. There are no seats like in Christian churches, you just sit on the floor. However, to be respectful, you must sit with your legs tucked under your body making sure your feet are not pointing at anyone. In Thai culture it is important that your head should be lower than the Buddha image or any monks present.
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