April was the busy month while we had three religious and traditional events in different places.
First event, on the 3rd of April which was my mother's birthday and she died on the 4th of April after going to have rice in aroma water with my children for her last birthday at Banglumpoo in 1996 or about 14 years ago. Her age was 79. Therefore, we went to Wat Sawang Ar-rom in Pak thor, Rachburi where my mother's ash was kept with her mother and her sister[my grand ma and aunt] under the Buddha image base in the temple. We made merit by inviting monks to pray and accept food and some necessary living facilities we brought from Bangkok.
Wat Sawang Ar-rom monks preparing for praying and blessing us
Beat,my youngest brother, we all missed our mother, grand ma and aunt.
The praying was our tradition by which we believed that these good manner could return to our family. Think and act in positive ways. And again, offering food and facility was one of the good believe. It's a donation
On the 4th of April, we went to my father cemetery[Huang sui] in Kokpeep, Prachinburi. His cemetery was the same place with his parents[my grand parents] and my relatives[father side] We offered food to their spirits and worshipped. In Chinese, they called "Cheng meng day" After doing these things, we believe that we will be happy in our lives. Atleast, we went there to think of our ancestors, remind of their good practices, and their teaching as we always follow them. Besides, we wanted to clean the cemetery and made them look okay all year round. At the site, there was the fruit orchard which a friend of us rent it for extra income.
My father's tomb wich was decorated in Chenmeng days. He passed away about 4-5 years before my mother[1990].
Our relatives, mostly small children were decorating my grandparents' tomb. Colourful decoration was one of chinese tradition
Worshipped to our grandparents in front of their tomb.
On the way back to Bangkok, we stopped at the market which it's age was more than 100 years and situated along a small canal. This market was in the border of Chachoengsao[Ban Po]-samutprakan[Bang Bor].
On April 10-15th, our family went to Chiangmai for the change in long weekend and living at my son new house. It was Songkran Festival. On April 11th evening, we invited the abbot of the temple near by and also one of the expert in ceremony to operate some merit making at our house. This ceremony was connected with the spirits-worshipped while we were setting the main pole for the structure base before building.
This ceremony, we demanded to have a wish boat on land praying because at the back of the house was bordered with a narrow stream.
A man in white robe was the master of ceremony. he was an expert about these activities
Bobby, my grand nephew, was listening to the monk praying with attention. He was in the monkhood in last summer.
Samai and Ananta, my closed friends and neighbours. We have been friends for over thirty years.
Tam, my niece[Samai daughter], was preparing some drinks for the monk, expert and everyone
Ampa[Samai's wife] as my close friend[also like relative] and my family were listening to the Monk praying
Tid, my wife ,and Nong Bim, my son, they played role of the host of the house.
The monk drawing marks for the house to be saved from any bad luck. Any bad thing had to be far away from us.
After ceremony was done. I and Pee Bee, my sister and Noi, Samai's sister. Before going out for a quick dinner.
Wish boat on land ceremony at the back of the house.
ASking me if I believe in these ceremonies, I said yes, we should believe in the good sides. They are our tradition since the ancestors' days. The tradition taught us to give, to organize relationship and to work with the family and friends with happiness. Good luck will be ours when we act good in manners, ideas, and friendship. Saying that, we will be happy to give, and help people. Be happy to be of service. Go to see friends and make a conversation with them, help them when they need. These are all at which our ancestors wanted us to be and act. Chavalvut
