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Poy Sang Long Festival: A Cultural Heritage
- Sunset Magazine Thai
- 16 เม.ย.
- ยาว 5 นาที
By Kasim Sheerazi
Poy Sang Long is a festival held yearly in Northern Thailand, particularly in Mae.
Hong Son is among the Shan ethnic community. It is often described as a vibrant and deeply
spiritual coming-of-age festival, where young boys are ordained as novice monks in the
Theravada Buddhist tradition. The elaborate dresses worn by the boys are designed to stand out,
adorned with gold, silk, and floral accessories, giving them a regal, princely appearance. Once
prepared, the boys are paraded through the streets while sitting on the shoulders of their male
relatives. This act holds symbolic significance, reenacting the life of the Buddha before his
renunciation.
This sacred ritual lasts for three days and serves as both a religious initiation and a
powerful expression of cultural identity and heritage. Through chanting, blessings, and
communal feasting, Poy Sang Long offers a unique window into the intersection of Buddhism,
tradition, and ethnic pride in the region (BBC Religions, 2009).
To understand the Poy Sang Long festival, we must first understand the Tai Yai people
(also known as the Shan people). They are an ethnic group of Southeast Asia and the largest
minority group in Myanmar, making up about 10% of the population and residing predominantly
in the Shan State. In Thailand, they are known as Ngio or Ngiauw in the Tai Yuan language and
represent a prominent demographic. The Tai Yai have a rich cultural heritage that includes
unique traditions, language, and religious practices.
Their religious beliefs are a blend of Theravada Buddhism and indigenous animistic
traditions, reflecting a unique spiritual landscape. Theravada Buddhism, the most dominant form of Buddhism in Thailand, is followed by 93.4% of Thai people. It emphasizes the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Pali Canon and focuses on individual enlightenment through
practices such as meditation, ethical conduct, and monastic discipline. This form of Buddhism
has significantly influenced Thai culture and society, shaping many aspects of daily life and
national identity.
The integration of Theravada Buddhist principles with the Tai Yai’s Indigenous beliefs
has led to unique cultural expressions, as seen in the Poy Sang Long festival. This festival not
only serves as a religious rite of passage but also reinforces communal bonds and cultural
identity among the Tai Yai people (Chiang Mai à La Carte, accessed 2025; Buddhanet, accessed
2025).
The process of shaving the boys’ heads on day 1, Rup Sang Long, which is a symbolic act of ridding themselves of their ‘worldly possessions and life’, an important recurring theme of Buddhism. This photo was taken at the Wat Ku Tao temple in Chiang Mai.
The Poy Sang Long festival, as mentioned earlier, unfolds over several days,
transforming villages in Northern Thailand into vibrant displays of color, music, and devotion.
The three days of the festival are explained in detail below:
Day 1: Rup Sang Long (Welcoming the Sons for Ordination)
The first day, known as Rup Sang Long, marks the beginning of the ceremony and the
boys’ journey into monkhood. It begins with families gathering, exchanging gifts, and enjoying a
communal feast, reinforcing the strong familial and social bonds that are key to the festival. The
boys are then lifted onto the shoulders of elder male relatives and taken to the local temple in a
celebratory procession.
At the temple, their heads and eyebrows are shaved in a symbolic act of renunciation and
purification. Each boy is then ritually bathed in holy water (Holidify, 2025).
Following this, a lively parade unfolds, accompanied by traditional music played with flutes,
drums, and cymbals. Each boy is flanked by three attendants: one to carry him, another to hold
an umbrella for shade, and a third to safeguard his ornate attire and jewelry. This royal treatment reflects the ancient Buddhist story of Prince Siddhartha before his renunciation, portraying the boys as princes who will soon give up worldly life. Thus, the entire procession becomes a symbolic rendition of his journey (Holidify, 2025).
Day 2: Kham Kaek (The Continuation of Celebrations and Blessings)
The second day, known as Kham Kaek, continues the festive spirit. The boys are usually
dressed in snow-white turbans, signifying their purity and spiritual transition. Families once
again celebrate with music, dancing, and food, while the boys are ceremonially led in procession
back to the temple (Holidify, 2025).
At the temple, the boys offer prayers to the Buddha and present gifts to the resident
monks as acts of good karma, charity, and devotion. They also receive blessings in preparation
for the monastic vows to be taken the next day. This day bridges the celebratory aspects of the
festival with its deeper spiritual significance (Holidify, 2025).
Day 3: Hae Khrua Lu (Ordination Day)
The final and most sacred day of the festival is called Hae Khrua Lu, which marks the
ordination of the boys into novice monkhood. The boys, seated on thrones, are once again
paraded to the temple, this time not as princes, but as young aspirants beginning a new chapter of spiritual learning (Holidify, 2025).
At the temple, each boy formally seeks permission from the monks to join the sangha
(monastic community). Once accepted, they change out of their elaborate costumes into simple
yellow monk robes and take traditional monastic vows. From that moment, they are recognized
as novice monks, embarking on a path of discipline, meditation, and religious study which is an
immensely proud moment for their families (Holidify, 2025).
On the final day of the festival, the boys march on to become novice monks and are led around by the senior monk to collect alms, a contrast to the colorful processions earlier in the festival.
The Poy Sang Long Festival is not only a significant religious rite and a vibrant
communal celebration, it is a festival that reinforces the cultural identity of the Shan people.
Preparations for the event begin weeks in advance, involving meticulous planning, from
organizing ceremonial processions to coordinating communal feasts.
Music and dance are integral parts of the celebration, with traditional Shan instruments and
performances setting the festive atmosphere. Food plays a central role, with communal meals
shared among participants and spectators alike, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness.
The festival also serves as a platform for the Shan community to reconnect with their
heritage and pass down traditions to younger generations. Through these collective experiences, the Poy Sang Long Festival strengthens communal bonds and preserves the rich cultural history of the Shan people.
Additionally, the festival showcases their heritage to the wider world and has the
potential to attract visitors and tourists seeking an authentic cultural experience. While this
exposure may lead to the commodification of their culture, potentially diluting its authenticity,
efforts can be made to ensure the festival’s integrity is maintained. At the same time, responsible tourism can bring financial benefits to the region (Bangkok Big Ears, 2024).
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