New Year's Countdown At A Temple

[camerata]

People in Japan let in the new year at temples, where the bell is struck 108 times, but will it take off in Thailand and should the Dept of Religious Affairs be encouraging Thais to pray for luck?

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/12/14...s_19414286.html

Monks offer alternative to New Year abandon

Published on December 14, 2005

Under the latest initiative of Department of Religious Affairs, temples may well compete with countdown parties on New Year’s Eve as the sanctuaries are going to allow celebrants in to welcome Year 2006 with merit making. The move is a bid to get people, especially the younger generations, closer to religion.

At least nine temples in the capital will be open for the public to make merit and listen to Lord Buddha’s teachings from 10pm on December 31 until after midnight and into the early hours of New Year Day, department director Preecha Kanthiya said.

“While many night-time attractions hold countdown parties offering alcoholic drinks and other allures, we want to invite people to pray for luck and farewell the old year in the temple,” he said.

He said it was believed that each temple could bring several kinds of luck to people according to their names. For example, people who go to Wat Chana Songkram which means “conquer war” would have triumph over all obstacles. And those going to Wat Kanlayanamit would have safe trips and meet good friends, the same as the temple name, which means “good friend”.

The other temples are the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Chao Phor Seua (Tiger God) Shrine, Wat Phra Chetuphon or Wat Pho, Wat Rakhangkositaram, Wat Suthat Thepwararam, Wat Arun Rajwararam or the Temple of Dawn and Bangkok City Pillar Shrine.

Popular monk Phra Phayom Kalayano, of Wat Suankaew in Nonthaburi, said it was a good idea to get more people to temples. Instead of joining parties “of the flesh”, people going to temples would be encouraged to behave well in the New Year.

Thawil Samakratthakij, deputy director of the National Buddhism Office, said the office planned a countdown party on Ak-sa Road in front of Phutthamonthon Park and people could give alms to monks.

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[Abandon]

all temples have a new year countdown anyway ... you only have to go along. Even the 3 temples around my place all have a nY thing going on.