Surin Hosts Traditional Naga Elephant Ordination Ceremony
On May 21, 2024, Surin Province held the 19th annual Naga Elephant Ordination Ceremony, a historic tradition of the Kui people, celebrating their deep-rooted connection with elephants. The event took place at the Kotcha Suksa Center and Wat Chaeng Sawang in Kra Pho Subdistrict, Tha Tum District, with Governor Phichit Bunthan presiding over the ceremony.
The ceremony featured a grand procession of 20 Naga men, seated on the backs of colorfully adorned elephants, parading from Wat Chaeng Sawang to the Grandfather Shrine along the Mun River. The procession included 50 elephants, with over 70 elephants and their handlers joining in the river to cleanse and refresh before participating in the ordination ceremony. The event culminated in a homage ceremony to the ancestors, led by Governor Bunthan, his wife, and local government heads, who performed incense and candle lighting rituals.
The Naga Elephant Ordination Ceremony is unique to Ban Ta Klang in Krapo Subdistrict, Tha Tum District, and is the only one of its kind in Thailand. It reflects the Kui people’s tradition, where villagers, often known as Kuay, live closely with elephants, a way of life passed down through generations. Ban Ta Klang, commonly referred to as “Elephant Village,” is renowned for this tradition held annually during the 13th-15th day of the waxing moon of the 6th lunar month, which in 2024 corresponds to May 20-22.
Contrary to what the name might imply, the ceremony involves the ordination of men rather than elephants. These men, dressed in bright, symbolic attire excluding black, ride on elephants to symbolize their entry into monkhood. This tradition differs from typical Thai ordination ceremonies and is exclusive to the Kui people. The ceremony is a significant cultural event, with Kui men returning from across the globe to be ordained in Ban Ta Klang, as ordination elsewhere is not recognized.
Officials in attendance included Mr. Sirisak Pattana and Mrs. Natthamon Siriwattanawanit, Deputy Mayors of the Surin Provincial Administrative Organization, the Tha Tum District Chief, local government agency heads, and numerous members of the Surin Provincial Administrative Organization and Krapo Subdistrict Administrative Organization, along with residents from Krapo and nearby subdistricts. The group ordination will continue at U Bosat, Wat Chaeng Sawang, on May 22, 2024.
