Novice Monks
13 May 2009 07:43 am
At the Baan Than Namchai home in southern Thailand seven young boys have spent their long school holidays as novice monks. This is something that thousands of young men do each year throughout Thailand and neighbouring countries. Many boys will stay on and become ordained as monks once they reach adulthood. Before joining, the boys must have their heads and eyebrows shaved, and this is done by their friends and adults who take care of them at the Home. Once at the temple they are issued with their orange robes which they must wear each day during official ceremonies. Each morning they wake before the sun has risen and off they go to collect their daily alms from the local villagers before returning home for breakfast and meditation. After lunch they change into their home garments and complete their daily tasks which include cleaning the temples, sweeping the leaves, taking care of the gardens and posing for anyone who arrives with a camera.