Funeral services. Funeral in Thailand

In general, today I will tell you about funerals in Thailand. Or more precisely, about what Thai graves, crematoria, etc. look like. You can also read and see photographs of the funeral ritual itself in Thailand.

It is not customary in Thailand to bury the body of the deceased in the ground. Therefore, it is first burned in a crematorium.

Here, for example, is one of the cemeteries on the territory of the monastery on Samui.

Another type of burial of ashes is in the wall of the monastery. By the way, it’s quite an expensive pleasure)

Another method of burial.

And here is the Thai crematorium. There is one like this in almost every temple.

How do funerals work in Thailand?

“First day.

We arrive in the village of my grandmother’s house, 100 kilometers from Chiang Mai, the town of Phrao. A hundred relatives and neighbors had already gathered there, everyone was busy preparing for the funeral. I didn’t notice any particular sadness; on the contrary, everyone was cheerful, working with passion, joking, and having fun. E and I are greeted joyfully.

We go into the house. I realized later that there was a coffin in the house. In the corner of the room there is something like a table on which there are flowers and a portrait of my grandmother. Incense smokes on the floor in front of him. E and I sat down and lit our sticks. Immediately there is a conversation between relatives - many have not seen each other for a long time, they have come from all over the country, and are talking cheerfully.

We go out into the yard. Or even into courtyards. There is food and local rice moonshine on the tables. During the work process, citizens come up, have a drink and a snack. One of them had already had a good snack and fell asleep in one of the houses. Everyone makes fun of him, invites him to the table, drinks, chats. By the way, only men drink.

In the main courtyard they are making a bamboo house, foam walls, windows, a door, and steps. The whole thing is decorated with foam plastic painted arabesques, colored foil, the house is painted, garlands are hung, curtains, lighting - new Toshiba fluorescent lamps.”

“They brought a gun carriage into the yard. They begin to build another complex structure on it to install the coffin. The result was something 3 full floors high, arabesques, bells, everything was painted, a lot of small details, lighting, lanterns. We stretch the tent from above. This is some kind of festival!”

“I’m going to another yard. There E is busy filling bamboo sticks with rice. Nearby, meat is being chopped on a wooden platform. I take off my shoes, sit on the platform, and chop. Only men deal with meat. We chat happily, and while we work, they bring us drinks and snacks to make our work more fun.

In the end, the meat should be almost minced. We take a piece of meat (beef and pork), cut it into pieces, add liver and blood and start chopping the whole thing with cleavers until it becomes minced meat. I’ve been doing this for about an hour, gradually getting together with the guys.

E calls, let's go, like, say goodbye to grandma. The guys thank me for my help and call me Somchai. I give it out in a tongue twister:

“Somchai pen nong Sompong, Sompong pen pi Somchai,” they’re all lying around.

E warns: “Thirak, don’t get too drunk, the main drinking will be in the evening, take care of yourself.”

A table was opened in the house, which turned out to be a white carved coffin. All the relatives passed, said goodbye, the women wiped away a woman’s miserly tears, and the coffin was closed. We take the coffin, take it out of the house and put it on a gun carriage. Grandma’s favorite pillow, her purse and some personal items are already there.

In the courtyard they set up concert acoustics at 10 kilowatts. So, I think there will also be a disco. The last speakers are dragged in using ladders - yes, with such sound you can pump up neighboring villages! The musicians arrived and brought instruments and equipment. Preparations are coming to an end. Everyone goes home to rest and change clothes for the holiday... er... event.
In the evening, all the illumination on the gun carriage, house and trees is lit. Four monks arrived, everyone sat down, we listened to the suttas. Then we move into the house. There are already suttas in random order for those interested. I receive a talisman on my hand.

Second day.

All day long there are suttas, music, food, drinks, fun. Red Bull bottles filled with special water are carried around, and those present are “sprinkled” with it.

Day three.

We're going to the final funeral.

This morning no one drinks, everyone is busy with the bustle.

We take the house in our arms and carry it to the temple. There is food in the house. As the healthiest person present, I always have the honorable responsibility of carrying the heaviest objects. I hear all the time: “Farang... Farang...” - people are having fun. Everyone takes pictures with me against the backdrop of the carriage, as if I were a curiosity - it seems there have never been farangs in these places. Then it became clear that the reason for the increased interest was different.

After an hour of sutras in the temple, we return to the deceased and prepare to move the carriage with the structure and coffin to the cremation site. 2 ropes of 50 meters each are tied to the carriage. All those present (already more than 100 people) take hold of the ropes. The cremation site is about a kilometer away. Along the way, firecrackers explode, there is a terrible roar, young maidens are screaming, children are having fun with all their might. We’ve arrived.”

“We remove the coffin with the body from the carriage and carry it onto a special concrete slab. Special workers open the coffin and take out the body. The coffin is carried away and its legs are broken off. The body in ordinary clothes is placed on the slab. A responsible comrade breaks 2 coconuts over the head of the deceased and pours coconut juice over the body. Next, the closest relatives, including me, pour water from a mug on the body one by one - the last ablution before the road to eternity. The deceased is placed back in the coffin.

We take the coffin to a pedestal with firewood, the entire healthy structure from the carriage is placed on top, a cable is nailed to it and pyrotechnics are installed.

Last speeches, last honors, prayers. A rocket is launched along a cable to the structure, which ignites pyrotechnics on the structure, fireworks, sparks, fire...”

“As soon as the fire starts, everyone gets into their cars and goes to get something to eat. Later the ashes will be scattered by the wind. The celebration of death (more precisely, a funeral in Thailand) has come to an end.

Why, exactly, be sad? The woman lived a decent life, gave birth to and raised a bunch of children, died with dignity, and will be reborn again in a new status, based on her life’s merits. None of those present doubts this.”

On the way from Samui to Malaysia, in the border town of Sadao, we decided to visit a Buddhist monastery for the last time. The abbot of the monastery received us as the most honored guests. We were given not just a cell, but a whole house. Only a few monks lived in the monastery.

By the time we washed ourselves, washed our clothes and sorted out our things, it was already getting dark.

Let's go for a walk! - suggested Natalya, who had only been traveling around Thailand for two weeks and still retained a thirst for vigorous activity.

Yes, we can go explore the territory,” I agreed.

It had already become completely dark when the three “white monkeys” went out for a walk. After 300 meters the sounds of music reached us, and then lights appeared.

There’s some kind of party there!” the girls exclaimed. - I wonder what it is? Let's go there!

As we got closer, we saw a stage where a live orchestra was playing behind a white screen, and a shadow theater was unfolding on the screen itself. There were tables nearby under a canopy. There were quite a lot of people. I’ve never seen anything like this before, and I’ve already been traveling in Thailand for 6 months. This is clearly some kind of holiday, everyone is happy and laughing.

Maybe it's a village disco? - Natalya suggested

Yes, they play fun, but the music itself is a little strange,” Olga noted.

“So what, normal music, you can dance,” Natalya did not let up, and immediately imitated several dance movements.

Wait, maybe you can’t dance here,” I tried to calm the girls down, “the locals are all looking at us.”

We simply could not go unnoticed, and two young guys with joyful faces and chairs hurried towards us.

Hello! Sit down please!

We were given a glass of Coca-Cola.

Are you having a holiday here? Disco? - Natalya tried to ask

Our Thai friend's English level left much to be desired.

Holiday... music...

Yes Yes…

And dancing! Disco?!

Disco?.. No, no disco!

No? Why?

The Thai just shook his head, shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms, which meant: “Sorry, my English is very bad.”

“Okay, there’s no disco, so at least let’s listen to music,” Natalya calmed down. - They probably also serve kin-kau here.

"Kin-kaw" in Thai means to eat (literally translated, it means "to eat rice"). Hearing our magic word, the Thai friend perked up:

Want some kin-kaw? - and pointing to the large pots against the wall, he offered to take whatever he wanted.

Without thinking twice, we picked up various dishes and joined the fun feast.

Well, let’s have dinner one more time, I love Thai food,” I said.

Yes, it’s great that we came here, I just wonder what they’re celebrating anyway? - Natalya answered.

Maybe it’s some kind of Buddhist holiday today,” I suggested, “it’s a pity that they hardly speak English, you can’t really ask.”

Then the Thai man again appeared near our table and invited us.

Would you like a beer?

Wow they are having a party! - I was surprised. - No, thanks, we don't drink beer. Tea, coffee - OK.

Oh, you’re from Russia, then here’s... vodka.

We never expected such a turn:

Yes, no, thank you, we prefer tea... Is it possible to drink on the territory of the monastery?

In general, you can’t, but today you can, have a drink, today we… my family has a big holiday,” the Thai answered.

He himself, judging by his appearance, had already taken advantage of the opportunity mentioned above several times and this, oddly enough, had noticeably improved his English.

What kind of event is this that you can drink even in a Buddhist monastery, probably something special, for example, a wedding,” I remarked in Russian.

“Today is a very big holiday for my grandmother,” our Thai friend came into contact again. - My family has a big holiday!

So what is your grandmother celebrating? Is it her birthday?

My grandmother died yesterday, and that's why today is a big holiday for us. My grandmother is lying there behind the screen. Let's go have a look!

With our mouths open in surprise, we followed the grandson of the hero of the occasion. Wow, a coffin! Beautiful, I wouldn’t refuse this myself!..

This is my grandmother,” the grandson pointed to the photo. - And this is my family...

The relatives sitting on the sofa greeted us cheerfully. Here's a disco for you...

Can we take a photo with the coffin in the background? - I asked.

Yes, of course, no problem,” the Thai agreed without hesitation.

But we immediately noticed that the music had a strange tint. It's fun here to see people off on their last journey, not like here, you can't tell right away whether you're going to a birthday party or a funeral. In Malaysia, in principle, it’s the same - whether a wedding or a funeral, there’s little difference.

Colorful everyday life, even more colorful holidays and carnival-like processions... funerals - all this is about Thailand. In an exotic state, people are seen off on their last journey according to Buddhist traditions and with the calmness characteristic of Buddhists. But the procession itself is so replete with flowers, cheerful (even despite the mourning) faces of the Thais, and sometimes even fireworks that it can easily be confused with a holiday.

According to Thai customs, after death the deceased remains at home for 7 days.

It all starts with preparation

Every day several monks come to the house to perform funeral services and read prayers. At the same time, relatives and friends arrive, wanting to say goodbye, and neighbors converge. Those who arrive light incense and place it at the head of the coffin as an offering to the deceased.

The rectangular coffin is densely decorated with flowers, garlands are made, and a photograph of the deceased is placed next to it. While the guests say goodbye, the table is set in the courtyard so that at any time you can have a snack and drink local rice vodka. If a wealthy Thai is being buried, waiters are hired to hand out drinks and light snacks during the funeral.

The funeral itself takes place on the 8th day

The procession is led by monks dressed in saffron, who read prayers.

The coffin is being carried behind. Recently, coffins have begun to be transported by car, and if the deceased was a wealthy person, a special platform is built for him.

It is decorated with flowers, LED strips, drapery, and the procession itself is accompanied by an orchestra.

In Thailand, only cremation is considered acceptable.

Crematoria are located at monasteries, but sometimes Thais burn the deceased right in the open air along with a decorated platform.

The ashes, if desired, can be buried in a columbarium, a monastery wall, or in the ground, marking the place with an unusual, filigree-made monument, which itself resembles a temple in appearance.

According to tradition, 100 days after the funeral, the relatives of the deceased visit the temple. They bring the monks money in an envelope and small household gifts - clothes, soap, fruit.

A characteristic feature of funerals in Thailand is a calm, even casual attitude towards the death of all participants in the procession.

Death here is just a transition to another state: such a philosophy is instilled from childhood in everyone who is brought up in the traditions of Buddhism. Only close relatives can cry, and you rarely see this. Basically, everyone is very calm, they talk a lot, even laugh, and some even take pictures in front of the coffin.

Residents of Thailand are so non-superstitious in terms of death that they even lie in a coffin without fear, while still in good health

Funeral of failure

One monastery has a tradition, popular among Thais and attracting tourists from all over the world, of burying failures.

Everyone who wants to part with their old life is invited to this temple. Here elegant and quite comfortable coffins await them. Participants in the ritual lay down in these coffins, and a monk walks around them.

He reads special prayers that put all participants in the ceremony into a trance. Then the monk wakes up the sleeping people, but it is believed that a new person has already woken up, and all his failures have been successfully buried.

By the way, Buddhist funerals are sometimes held in Russia. This is not surprising: our country is multinational and contains hundreds and thousands of a wide variety of customs and traditions.

Almost 12 months ago, the beloved ruler of Thailand, Rama IX, passed away. He died on October 13, 2016. The sadness of the Thai people is limitless and it continues to this day. More than a million people came to the throne room of the king's palace in the capital of the state, Bangkok, to say goodbye to their adored monarch. Even now, in October 2017, a significant number of residents and guests of the country wear mourning clothes as a sign of grief for Bhumibol Adulyadej.

A date is approaching that no one wants to wait for - the day of the funeral - the ceremonial burning of the King's body. Many tourists are interested in how much the ceremony will affect their holiday in Thailand and how to behave correctly so as not to show disrespect or ridicule to the residents of the state, and is it even worth visiting an Asian country at such a moment in its history?

• October 13 has become a new mourning date in the Thai calendar in honor of the death of the beloved King;
• The funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej will last 4 days - from October 25 to 29, 2017;
• The ritual of ceremonial cremation (burning of the body) will be performed in the middle of the week - October 26, 2017;
• This day will be officially declared a holiday in Thailand so that all residents can come to the ceremony;
• The Grand Palace of the King will be open only to tourists who wish to honor the memory of the ruler;
• This complex, as well as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, will close its doors to people for the entire second month of autumn (the residence will leave them open only for travelers) and will receive visitors only on its penultimate day;
• On October 7, 15 and 21, trial runs (rehearsals) of the procession will be held at Sanam Luang Square. Most likely, these events can be viewed and photographed provided that you wear modest mourning clothes;
• The crematorium, where the burning of the King’s body will take place, will be open throughout November, seven days a week, from 7:00 to 22:00;
• There will be no need to pay for travel on the Skytrain BTS (metro) systems on October 26. Also on October 25 and 27, routes between On Nut and Samrong, Wongwian Yai and Bang Wa stations will be open for travel.
• On October 25-27, 2017, trips on BRT buses between Sathon and Ratchapreuk stations will not cost passengers a penny.

Funeral schedule

25 October: Royal Merits will be presented. This ritual marks the beginning of the body burning ceremony in the Grand Palace of the Rulers of Thailand;

October 26: the body of the deceased monarch, embalmed and placed in a special sarcophagus, will be transferred to Sanam Luang Square, to a wooden structure that has been erected on it for a long time;

October 29: At 10:30 am, the relics will be enshrined in another throne room called Chakri Maha Prasat. The ashes that remain after the burning of the ruler will be divided and transferred in two urns to the temples of Wat Rajabopit and Wat Bowon.

Questions that tourists often ask

Question: Can anyone come to the funeral ceremony of the Thai monarch?

Answer: Yes, several hundred thousand people will attend the event. It is only important to wear something modest and, preferably, black. But entry to the burning ritual itself will be allowed only by invitations, which have been sent out in advance to the highest clergy, officials and close people of the King.

Question: Can every tourist, including me, take a photo at the funeral ceremony.

Answer: No. Only media representatives who have been accredited by the royal court will have the right to do this.

Question: Will the country's entertainment venues be open on funeral days?

Answer: Officially, their work is not prohibited, but it is likely that in the evenings, on the day of cremation, bars and clubs will be prohibited from opening their doors to visitors, and from October 25 to 27, a taboo will be introduced on the sale of alcohol.

Question: What clothes are best to wear on the days of the monarch's funeral?

Answer. You should only wear black and gray when attending mourning events.

Question: Will shops be allowed to open on the days of special ceremonies?

Answer: Most likely yes. Shopping centers in the country never close at all.

Question: How will the temples in the capital of Thailand work?

Answer: All prayer houses, except the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, will function as usual.

Question: Is it possible and is it necessary to visit Bangkok during all mourning events?

Answer: The capital of Thailand is always beautiful. But it is worth remembering that there will be a large crowd of people in Sanam Luang Square and Khao San Road.