Cultural Misstep: Indian Tourists Climb Buddha Statue for Mangoes - video

[snoop1130]

 

Photo courtesy of Naewna

 

A recent incident at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon in Ayutthaya, Thailand, has caused an uproar among the Buddhist community. It involved Indian tourists climbing a Buddha statue to pick mangoes, raising concerns about respect and behavior on sacred grounds.

 

A TikTok video, captured by user @viewyeahhh, shows an Indian woman, aged between 50 and 60, stepping on a Buddha statue's base to reach the fruit. Another woman was seen holding a bag of mangoes below. This action has led to widespread anger and highlighted the need for cultural awareness among tourists.

 

Reporters visited the site in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district and found numerous mango trees surrounding the sacred Chedi Chai Mongkhon area. The tree in the video was notably full of fruit, enticing the tourists.

 

Kanyavee, a 51-year-old visitor, expressed her disappointment, stressing the need for respect on temple grounds. She reiterated that while tourists are welcomed to take photos and participate in temple activities, they should avoid touching sacred objects.

 

 

Arunee, a 64-year-old temple staff member, speculated that the incident occurred during a busy holiday period. Although surprised when shown the video, she noted that the women were likely not part of a guided tour, as guides typically inform tourists about site etiquette.

 

The temple has signs instructing visitors on proper behavior and attire. Arunee suggested the mango-picking may have happened late in the day when fewer staff were present.

 

In response, temple officials plan to enhance monitoring to prevent similar incidents, ensuring respect and reverence are maintained on the temple grounds, reported The Thaiger.

 

 

-- 2025-03-04

 

 

[ikke1959]

Thailand and Buddhism... Thailand is not a Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions.. Netizens only use Buddhism as an excuse when it is useful for them...Real Buddhists should not kill eachother, but respect lives, have compassion.... not deport people, work on their own live to become better  instead of being greedy, jealous, gambling to get more money etc and many more... 

 

See todays headlines.... how many people have been killed already.. That is not Buddhism

[fredwiggy]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:08 PM, ikke1959 said:

Thailand and Buddhism... Thailand is not a Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions.. Netizens only use Buddhism as an excuse when it is useful for them...Real Buddhists should not kill eachother, but respect lives, have compassion.... not deport people, work on their own live to become better  instead of being greedy, jealous, gambling to get more money etc and many more... 

 

See todays headlines.... how many people have been killed already.. That is not Buddhism

Expand  

True in a way, as many are hypocrites in all religions, and have killed using it as a crutch. There are quite a few here that are practicing Buddhists and respect the nature of it, and not pray for money,  gold, or winning lottery numbers. As far as the post, hey should have planted the mango trees a bit further from the statues, and people will use any means to gather fruit here.

[hotsun]

Dont indians have respect for their own religion? Maybe it only applies in their country

[roo860]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:08 PM, ikke1959 said:

Thailand and Buddhism... Thailand is not a Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions.. Netizens only use Buddhism as an excuse when it is useful for them...Real Buddhists should not kill eachother, but respect lives, have compassion.... not deport people, work on their own live to become better  instead of being greedy, jealous, gambling to get more money etc and many more... 

 

See todays headlines.... how many people have been killed already.. That is not Buddhism

Expand  

Exactly, a bunch of hypocrites.

[Harrisfan]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:08 PM, ikke1959 said:

Thailand and Buddhism... Thailand is not a Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions.. Netizens only use Buddhism as an excuse when it is useful for them...Real Buddhists should not kill eachother, but respect lives, have compassion.... not deport people, work on their own live to become better  instead of being greedy, jealous, gambling to get more money etc and many more... 

 

See todays headlines.... how many people have been killed already.. That is not Buddhism

Expand  

95% buddhist

That's a buddhist country

Duuh

[Young Hick]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:08 PM, ikke1959 said:

Thailand and Buddhism... Thailand is not a Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions.. Netizens only use Buddhism as an excuse when it is useful for them...Real Buddhists should not kill eachother, but respect lives, have compassion.... not deport people, work on their own live to become better  instead of being greedy, jealous, gambling to get more money etc and many more... 

 

See todays headlines.... how many people have been killed already.. That is not Buddhism

Expand  

The thing is the news reports only majorly the bad ones.  I would still lean on majority good Thais following Buddhist principles.  That's why I'm settling there.   The crimes are terrible and a turn off when I saw them on TV news day after day after day.  But then all countries only report the crimes majorly.  

[Young Hick]

On the topic, that is terrible of the Indian (perhaps a Hindu) climbing a Buddhist fixture.  

[fredwiggy]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:38 PM, Young Hick said:

The thing is the news reports only majorly the bad ones.  I would still lean on majority good Thais following Buddhist principles.  That's why I'm settling there.   The crimes are terrible and a turn off when I saw them on TV news day after day after day.  But then all countries only report the crimes majorly.  

Expand  

Another way is to research crimes online in any country to see the real picture. Stats are there. You'd be surprised what goes on they don't show on the daily news.

[factual monk]

60 - 80 thb mango or respect... I fail to understand why people behave in such a stupid way. 

They might be from India, Sri Lankan or people of Indian origin in other country but whatever is their nativity... this kind of behavior is simply shameful. 

[soalbundy]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:29 PM, Harrisfan said:

95% buddhist

That's a buddhist country

Duuh

Expand  

Europe and America are referred to as Christian countries.....how's that for hypocrisy, it's all weddings and funerals and throat cutting in between.

[hotchilli]

Mountain and a mole hill springs to mind

[ignore it]

Indians love Thailand for its food.

 

And the mangoes are free for the picking.

[Burma Bill]

  On 3/4/2025 at 9:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

Indian woman, aged between 50 and 60, stepping on a Buddha statue's base to reach the fruit.

Expand  

 

 

She climbs to where man-goes!

[CanadaSam]

Hey, she didn't step on his head, or even his feet! 

 

She apparently stepped onto the base of the statue!

[Woke to Sounds]

These boorish beasts should be fined, then their tourist visas immediately revoked and finally sent back on the first plane to Kolkata.

 

No excuse for this kind of disrespect.

[bunnjohn]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:25 PM, roo860 said:

Exactly, a bunch of hypocrites.

Expand  

Yes exactly 

[Photoguy21]

Buddhism originated in India for what it is worth. An offshoot of Hinduism.

[cdemundo]

  On 3/5/2025 at 4:52 AM, CanadaSam said:

Hey, she didn't step on his head, or even his feet! 

 

She apparently stepped onto the base of the statue!

Expand  

Yes, I was thinking the same thing.

More manufactured outrage.

 

Big meh.

 

[klauskunkel]

  On 3/4/2025 at 9:42 AM, snoop1130 said:

Indian tourists climbing a Buddha statue to pick mangoes

Expand  

makin' me some blessed mango chutney

[roo860]

  On 3/5/2025 at 5:01 AM, Woke to Sounds said:

These boorish beasts should be fined, then their tourist visas immediately revoked and finally sent back on the first plane to Kolkata.

 

No excuse for this kind of disrespect.

Expand  

🥱🥱 and another troll 🧌 

[mithunonthenet]

Shameless idi0t woman!

[black tabby12345]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:08 PM, ikke1959 said:

Thailand and Buddhism... Thailand is not a Buddhistic country but a mix of several religions..

Expand  

 

Before Buddhism, Animism(worship of nature/natural phenomenon); primitive form of religion.

That is why buildings here often have a little shrine(dedecated to House Pea; local spirit) on their site.

Also under the influence of Hinduism.

April's water festival Songkran, and 4-faced Budha(originally one of Hindu gods Brahma).

[watchcat]

  On 3/4/2025 at 11:41 PM, Young Hick said:

On the topic, that is terrible of the Indian (perhaps a Hindu) climbing a Buddhist fixture.

Expand  

 

How did they build these fixtures without stepping on them?