Wai Khru Ceremony

I volunteer at the Pattaya Orphanage, which houses 160-170 children, from birth to University age.  The children begin formal schooling outside of the Orphanage at the age of 7.  Until that age, they are taught by teachers in the Orphanage, and I assist with their English instruction.  As a teacher, I was invited to participate in the annual Wai Khru ceremony, which is held in every school in Thailand during the beginning of the new academic year, which is in June.  It is always held on a Thursday, because according to Thai tradition, Thursdays are an auspicious day for teachers.  The Wai Khru ceremony provides the students with the opportunity to thank their teachers for all their efforts in the past and to ask their teachers to continue to provide them with good instruction in the future.

The ceremony started with a Thai chant, led by one of the teachers.  In this chant, the students express their respect for and gratitude to their teachers and ask for the teacher's blessings on their studies.  At the conclusion of the chant, children representing different classes, walked up in pairs, holding floral gifts for their teachers.  They bowed before a small altar.

The students then knelt down and "walked on their knees" in front of their teachers, showing their deep respect for them.  Once all the children had assembled in front of their teachers, they presented their gifts.

The teachers accepted the gifts and wished their students good luck in their future learning.   Although the children were very young, some as young as 3 years old, they watched the older students, and followed their directions and tried so hard to perform their roles perfectly.  They knew this was an important ceremony, and they all behaved so respectfully.  The English teachers were also invited to participate, and the children presented us roses.

The flowers and objects used in the gifts all have meaning in this ceremony.  The Dok Ma Khue, or eggplant flower, is used to convey respect.  When this tree blooms, the branches bend down in the same manner that the student pays respect.  Ya Praek, or burmuda grass, is used to convey patience or perserverance.  Khao Tok is popped rice, which signifies discipline.  Dok Khem is a needle sharp plant which signifies the student's promise to be sharp-witted and brainy.  Candles are included in the display, they represent light and knowledge. The roses represent love.  

This was a beautiful ceremony, I was so honored to be a part of this, and to feel the respect and love from the children and to feel an important part of this Thai tradition.