Mon Songkran: The Unique Ritual of Walking on the Monk's Back The phrase "สงกรานต์มอญ หลวงพ่อเดินเหยียบหลัง หนึ่งเดียวในโลก" translates to "Mon Songkran: The Unique Ritual of Walking on the Monk's Back."

The Amazing Water-Pouring Ceremony at Wat Wang Wiwekaram

On April 17, 2018, at Wat Wang Wiwekaram in Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi, Thailand, the penultimate day of the Songkran festival was celebrated with a unique water-pouring ceremony. Villagers gathered to pour water on sacred Buddha statues and then on the monks and novices of the temple. This ritual signifies the belief that monks are pure and should not tread on the ground.

Mon men, both adults and teenagers, demonstrated their devotion by lying down in a long row, allowing the monks to walk on their backs. This act is believed to cleanse individuals of bad luck and negativity. This remarkable ceremony, unlike any other in the world, is a testament to the deep faith and cultural traditions of the Mon people.

Led by the abbot of Wat Wang Wiwekaram, Phra Maha Suchat Siripanno, the monks walked on the bodies of Buddhist devotees lying in rows to participate in the ritual of bathing the monks, a unique tradition of Wat Luang Pho Uthama.

Villagers will work together to make bamboo gutters by splitting bamboo lengthwise and tying them together. These gutters will be arranged in a fan-like shape to create a water channel. Each gutter will have branches to ensure that the water reaches everyone during the bathing ceremony.

All the water from the wooden troughs flows to a single point, where a bamboo screen decorated with flowers serves as a barrier. This allows the monks, who are carried on the backs of people, to sit and bathe behind the screen.

After bathing the Buddha statue, the male villagers will help carry the statue to the temple stairs to prevent the monks from touching the ground.

After the ceremony, the villagers worked together to dismantle the bamboo gutters, which was completed quickly.

After the bathing ceremony for all the monks was completed, the Mon people used the remaining water to playfully splash each other, creating a truly memorable scene. In addition to the amazing ceremonies of the "Walking on the Backs of Monks," "Bathing the Monks through Bamboo Canals," and "Carrying the Monks," Wat Wang Wiwekaram also hosts a five-day Songkran celebration.

Each day of the Songkran festival has a distinct name, such as Wan Songkran Long, Wan Khap Pi, Wan Songkran Up, Wan Song Nam Phra, and Wan Yok Chatra Chedi, or Wan Krot Nam. During the first three days, elderly Mon people observe a religious retreat at the temple, purifying their minds in preparation for the new year. Their children and grandchildren deliver food to them at the temple early in the morning, around 5:00 AM. The Mon people collectively transport sand to the temple to construct a sand pagoda near the Bodhi tree, close to the Buddha Gaya pagoda. The pagoda's construction is unique, featuring a single large structure built in layers, adorned with burning incense and colorful flags. During the day, the Mon villagers engage in traditional games and joyful dances.

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