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Poy Sang Long Festival

Some of Wi's photos of the Shan annual initiation or ordination ceremony in Chiang Mai

Poy Sang Long is a traditional Shan festival where boys are ordained before entering a monastery as novice monks. The ceremony is a time-honoured, ‘rite of passage’ with some boys perhaps only spending a token week or two as novices and others going on to spend years – or even a lifetime – as Buddhist monks.

Poy Sang Long
Little princes

While the majority of ethnic Shan people inhabit the eponymously-named Shan Plateau region of northeastern Burma there is – for obvious reasons – a large community of Shan refugees and migrants living today in Northern Thailand and this particular, well-attended ceremony was held at Wat Ku Tao in Chiang Mai City.

Young Shan 'prince'
Including some thanaka makeup

Traditionally the boys are dressed as ‘princes’ with elaborate costumes, which is supposed to reflect Buddha’s childhood as a prince prior to his departure from the royal palace as he answered his religious calling.

Poy Sang Long
Ice cream break for this little prince

The ceremony is usually held for teenage boys – from around 12 years of age up to 20 – although in this case, many are clearly younger.

Poy Sang Long
Proud dad moment

Younger lads, who would otherwise get rather lost in the crowd, are often carried on the shoulders of a close family member such as father, uncle or elder brother.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
The adults clearly enjoy thenmsleves too
Poy Sang Long at Wat Ku Tao
Poy Sang Long at Wat Ku Tao
Chiang Mai April 2023
Chiang Mai April 2023
Poy Sang Long festival
Rare to see so much tinsel outside of Xmas
Poy Sang Long festival
Even the aunts and grandmothers join in

Thanks to Wi for all the great photos.