Saturday, April 25, 2009

Thai Funeral and Cremation Rites



Buddhist monks chant at the home of the deceased whose body lay in a wooden casket, inside a special silver and black refrigerated unit.




Monks chanting and the passing of the string while daughter of the deceased makes special offering in honor of her father.



Removing the casket from the refrigerated unit on the hearse and carrying the casket to the crematorium.




Taking the top of the casket allowing for ceremonies that follow.




Monks pour coconut water over the body in an act of symbolically washing the corps.




The family of the deceased symbolically wash and bless their father's corps.




Monks lay a small bundle containing a stick of incense, a candle and matches, on the wooden casket, therein symbolically lighting the cremation fire.


For the final ceremony involving the scattering of the ashes, go to my July 2206 blog at:

http://thailandtales.blogspot.com/

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