Poy Sang Long Festival

This festival is a preparation for the ordination of young Shan men into Buddhist monk hood. For three days before their ordination, they are dressed up in lavish clothes, jewelry and makeup, and paraded around the streets of the city on the shoulders of friends and relatives.

An important procession takes place on the second day of the festival, when the boys are again carried on shoulders and shielded from the sun by golden parasols. On the third day, the boys symbolically strip off their luxurious clothes and put on the saffron robe of monk hood.

The parade to the temple is accompanied by the sound of flutes, the beat of drums and the clash of cymbals as local musicians give their support and respect to the boys.

The festival of Poy Sang Long is essentially Thai Yai (as are the words in proper Thai it is called Buad Loog Gaew) and means "ordaining the beloved sons".

Hours: 24 hrs.

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Contact Information

Poy Sang Long Festival
Wat Pa Pao, Maneenoparat Road
50200 Chiang Mai

Tel. +6653248604

http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/poy_sang_long_festival.html