Cremation in Chiang Mai

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Buddhist Funeral

I was fortunate enough to witness two elaborate funerals at different wats over a period of about a month,
Thousands of people attended each one. The photos are a combination from each ceremony since I ran out
of batteries at the first one. Not only that, but it can get so crowded you can't move to take various photo angles.


The funerals are not as solemn as in the west. Complimentary food and drink is provided.
Dancing ceremonies are performed and thousands of people pay there respect at the send off.
The funeral rights included a thick glossy book with the abbotts picture which was handed out to hundreds of people.


The first was at Wat Phra Singh Luang in December. The abbott was 97 years old when he died last year.

The other in January took place at Chedi Luang. The 92 year old monk was a permanent member of the elders.



Cremation

The structure looked like a giant parade float, built in four days and this was the funeral pyre.


It was very beautifully and elaborately constructed . At a height of about 5 stories it was built for
cremating the monk's body. It's constructed in the shape of a mythical beast which is a
combination of a wild gander, which in Hindu theology is the vehicle of Brahma, and an
elephant, the head of Ganesh, in Hindu theology, the son of Shiva.


Each of these funerals cost between $10,000 and $20,000. In these cases, because of the
prestige of each of the monks, they were paid for by Royal Family.


A firework directed at the pyre started the fire and then the burning pyre was
enhanced with fireworks exploding in and around as the fire slowly engulfed everything.


Fire engines were present to control the burning and prevented flying embers
from spreading the fire by sending a fine mist through the air. But mainly the hoses
prevented the lower parts of the pyre from burning first to prevent the casket from
crashing to the ground.



Like the elaborate sand mandalas made by teams of Buddhist monks over a period of several weeks , the elaborate funeral pyre is allowed to be destroyed to illustrate the nature of impermanence basic to Buddhism.



All the karma the abbot has accumulated during his life determines his next rebirth.
And this is the beginning of that rebirth.





Visit my other Travel Blogs at MyTB.org/nomad1979

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Photos

Husadalingu
A mythical hybrid of elephant and swan

A "prasat" sits on the back of the beast
This is where the casket is placed

Spectacularly colourful
The ears and head move by means of ropes pulled by monks.

Cremation Pyre
The 97 year old abbott of Wat Phra Singh died one year ago and according to custom
was cremated the following year.

A controlled burn
The fire department was on hand.

Funeral Pyre
Transitory nature of all things, including elaborate funeral pyres and life, is a constant theme in Buddhism