The Jong Para (Thailand Local Custom)

The Jong Para / The Monk's Temple
(Thailand Local Custom at Mae Hong Son)

The Jong Para : a welcome for the Lord Buddha's return to earth

       Having been to see his mother in heaven for 3 months, the Lord Buddha comes  back to the earth at dawn , on the next day after the Buddhist Lent.

      All Tai people (one of the Northern tribes in Mae Hong Son) hold this day as being the most important ,so they gladly prepare a welcome for the Lord Buddha. A beautiful wooden castle is built as a worldly abode for the Buddha, which also serves to make merit for the Tais' ancestors . It is an opportunity for the tribe to unite and preserve their religion for all time. The breathtaking castle is fashioned from bamboo and decorated with colorful papers, and finely crafted gold leaf fretting. The work showcases the unique Tai craftsmanship and is named "Jong Para", meaning "the monk's temple".

Bamboo Rafting Along Pai River, Mae Hong Son

Bamboo Rafting Along Pai River, Mae Hong Son

       How to get there: From Pal Town, Mae Hong Son, there will be transport services to the rafting starting point at Ban Huay San Not, at Khong River, about 65 kilometers from Mae Hong Son Town. It takes about one and a half hour to the river. From Khong River, the course will run along to Pal River, and finish at Mae Hong Son Town. Most travellers do not come back to Pal again, but continue to other attractions in town or board the plane to Chiang Mai instead.

       Location: The start of Pal River rafting is at Amphoe Pal, Mae Hong Son, about 111 kilometers from Mae Hong Son Town and 99 kilometers from Chiang Mai.

      Characteristics: This river is rather narrow and winding, so sometimes the water is very fast and sharp. The river runs pass Amphoe Pal, Amphoe Pang Mapha, and Mae Hong Son Town, before flowing out at Salawin River. The total distance of this river course is 180 kilometers.

Difficulty: Level     3-4

Distance: 45-50 kilometers

POI SANG LONG (Thailand Local Custom)

Sanf Long 1

Sanf Long2

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Sanf Long4

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POI SANG LONG (Thailand Local Custom)

Poi Sang Long (Mae Hong Son)

Young boys are made-up 

       The ordainm.ent of young boys or the "Poi Sang Long Ceremony" as it is called  in the  Northern Tai  dialect,  is held for boys who enter the priesthood at a very young age. It is believed that parents who ordain  their  own  sons  as  novices will obtain 8 aeons of merit. If they arrange an ordainment for other people's sons, they will receive only 4 aeons of merit. These parents are  referred to as "Phor Sang & Mae Sang " (fathers  and  mothers  of  ordained  children).

       The ordainment of a novice is a very important event for the Tais. They believe that children are  innocent and pure as a clear glass ball. When they become novices, they emerge even cleaner. Hence the reason why they call the ceremony "the ordainment of an innocent child" .

       The ceremony is organized for children between the ages of 1 0 to 14 years old, who are usually students. An auspicious time for the ceremony is April , as it is the summer holidays. The duration of the ceremony is from 3 to 7 days, depending on the status of the host. However the core process can be completed in only 3 days.

        On the first day, the parents will accompany their children to  the local temple. After shaving their hair, their female relatives will help them make-up and dress nicely.