The annual mass ordination ceremony of the Kui ethnic group in Surin will kick off in the middle of this month.
The event, called Buat Nak Chang, is an extravaganza involving dozens of elephants. The Kui, who migrated from Laos to Thailand during the Ayutthaya period, were historically renowned for their expertise in capturing and taming wild elephants. During the early Rattanakosin era, leaders from different Kui communities presented Siamese kings with white elephants.
Catching wild elephants became illegal in 1957. Thereafter, the Kui went from being elephant catchers to mahouts. These days, they raise elephants in their own backyards, and regard the animals as a member of the family. The biggest Kui community is located in Ban Ta Klang, also known as the Elephant Village, in Tha Tum district, Surin.
Every year, the people of Ban Ta Klang organise the three-day Buat Nak Chang festival, which culminates in the date of the full moon. This year, it falls on May 16-18.
The first day is the head shaving and blessing ceremony, held in Wat Chaeng Sawang from 8.30am to noon. The festival highlight comes on the second day when the monks-to-be put on make-up and colourful costumes. At around 9am, they ride the elephants with mahouts from their homes to Surin Elephant Study Centre, where they are joined for a prayer by the governor of Surin.
A procession begins at 11am, accompanied by music played on drums and khaen (Isan mouth organ). The elephants walk for about 3km to the ancestors' shrine in Wang Talu on the banks of the confluence of the Chi and Mun rivers. A prayer ceremony takes place before the procession ends.
The last day is ordination day, and takes place at around 9am at Wat Chang Sawang.
For more information, call Provincial Administration Organisation of Surin at 044-514-524 or the Public Relations Department of Surin Province at 044-521-361.
