Dressed in white he is now a Naga as he receives blessings from a monk. as part of the purification right. A naga is a mythical serpent that wished to be a monk and took human form to be ordained. Buddha, discovering that he was a serpent told him that only humans can be monks. The serpent asked for one favour that all newly ordained monks be called “naga” which Buddha consented.

Putting together a Thai Buddhist Monk Ceremony photo essay was when I discovered my passion for photography. I experimented with photography for a few years but it was a general approach and I was not sure what genre was most suited to my personality. I worked on themes but not on an essay. It took some time before I could discover myself in the world of photography and because of that, I did not take photographs as often as I should except for those family moments or trips. Eventually, the day came when my wife’s youngest brother was being ordained to become a monk, and that was when I discovered documentary photojournalism.

Shaving of the hair. Family members will take turns cutting locks of hair to place in the lotus leaf and give their blessings.

By the age of twenty, most Thai Buddhist males become monks for a period so that their parents can receive many blessings and an easier afterlife. It was the first time that I would be attending a Thai Buddhist Monk Ceremony and did not know what to expect. I had no intentions to do a photo essay and did not do any research on it either. I knew that there was not going to be any professional photographer covering the event,  so I figured that I will fill this role and do the best that I could so that this family can have a decent album to look back on of this particular occasion.

A procession to the temple filled with music and dancing.

The event lasted for two days starting early in the morning. The first day went straight into the night till late. It was an evening of celebration similar to the reception of a wedding. All the family members were there and everyone from the village. It was a rice farming community and a portion of land was prepared with tables and chairs for dining and a large stage for a dance performance show. It was quite extensive for a poor rice farmer, but I learnt that everyone who attended, a sizable number, donated towards it. This practice is how these communities help each other, making such an event more affordable.

After the ordination, the naga changes his robes and is now accepted as a monk by the abbot.

I followed the whole event for two days applying what I learnt from reading many photography books regarding technical and composition but still clueless about storytelling. It was only a few days after when I sat down during post-processing and choosing what to print that I started to see something that for me was more enjoyable than chasing landscapes or an artsy semi-abstract scene. It was a story with captivating images and the need to share it so that others can learn and appreciate this aspect of culture and community in the rural parts of Thailand. There was something else that I gained from this experience, and that was the need for research. There were some moments that I missed by a minute or a few seconds simply because I did not know what to expect. If I had known better, I would have been able to put together a more satisfying photo essay. I am still happy though because I am aware now what I love about photography.

Sculpture of a naga. A naga is a mythical serpent that wished to be a monk and took human form to be ordained. Buddha, discovering that he was a serpent told him that only humans can be monks. The serpent asked for one favour that all newly ordained monks be called “naga” which Buddha consented.

You can see more images from the Thai Buddhist Monk Ceremony photo essay in my gallery. Be sure to read the captions to better understand what is taking place. Hope you enjoy it and remember to share. Thank you.