12 Must-See Photos from Srariang Temple's Novice Ordination Project, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Here is my selection of the most must-see photos from novice ordination project, organized by Srariang temple in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat to mark the 88th birthday of the king of Thailand in between 2-9 Dec, 2015. 

Srariang temple's abbot Phra Krubhommaketkanarak, who chaired the novice ordination project especially aiming to honor the 88th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, led his soon-to-be novices in white holding lotuses, candles and joss sticks to perform a Buddhist ceremony under the hot sun in front of the ordination hall. 

New novices working in pairs were folding their Buddhist robes, including practicing the wearing of yellow novice robes after their ordination day inside the Dhamma hall of Srariang temple.

Before lunchtime, a smart novice was giving his first Dhamma (the Buddha's teachings) talk to his much-loved parents, relatives and all regular Buddhists inside the preaching hall.

A group of novices with good teamwork drawing their dream future on a big piece of paper after listening to a lecture, given by a well-educated monk. 

Groups of little novices were willing to express their ideas about the dream future that they want to live in on their given papers ahead of presentation time. 

Trainers in charge of taking care of little novices allowed their little novices staying in line to give the blessings in Pali to generous merit-makers after receiving alms.

Parents, relatives as well as participants were paying close attention to listen to a short Dhamma talk during a holy ceremony of novice ordination celebration, which was held every morning, in order to dedicate merits to Head of State King Bhumipol, who turned 88 on 5 Dec this year.

A master was leading all novices to pray before the start of a creative entertaining activity.

After receiving alms outside the temple and sweeping the temple ground, novices gathered at the hall to be ready for breakfast. Shortly after that, they were allowed to queue up to serve themselves food for breakfast.

Ven. Suriya Suriyo, a famous preacher & lecturer, was delivering a guidance talk mostly about moral, concentration and wisdom to new novices, who devoted themselves to join the project of December this year in the main hall of Srariang temple.

A long-haired female Buddhist in white shirt was offering alms to a novice at a well-prepared merit-making place in Nakhon Si Thammarat. 

A candle-lighting ceremony, one of the most popular ceremonies to mark its key events, was held to celebrate the king's 88th birthday on 5 Dec, 2015.