The annual Poi Sang Long Festival, a traditional ordination ceremony for boys between seven and 14 years, will be held on 2-5 April in Mae Hong Son province.
The festival lasts three days. On the first day, the boys receive gifts from their family members and are then escorted to the temple to have their eyebrows and heads shaved and be ritually cleansed. The boys are dressed in sumptuous clothes and wear sophisticated makeup on their faces. On the second day, the boys are carried on the shoulders of their parents or male mentors as their feet may not touch the ground. On the third day, the novice monks enter the monastery for a period which can range from several weeks to decades.
Spectacular ordination ceremonies will take place in many villages and communities across the province. In some temples, the ceremony is scheduled for as early as 20-23 March.
The most colorful Poi Sang Long Festival will be held at Wat Hua Wiang in Mueang Mae Hong Son. We would also recommend visiting events in Khun Yuam, Mae Sariang, and Pang Mapha districts, as well as in Pai’s Wat Sri Don Chai.