A novice monk at the yearly ordination of novice monks in Mae Hong Son, Thailand

A novice monk just after he has been ordained at Poy Sang Long, the yearly ordination ceremonies in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, in April 2003. The boy still has some makeup left in his face from when he was earlier dressed up as a prince in memory of the Buddha. Practically every Shan boy goes through the Poy Sang Long sometime between the age of eight and fourteen. After the ordination, the boy spends about one month in a Buddhist monastery, and then he usually returns to normal life again.

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Filename: 4022.jpg
Copyright: Copyright © 2003 Anders Ryman. All rights reserved.
Image Size: 3648x5464 / 20.2MB; Asia Boy Buddhism Buddhist Life Cycle Ritual Mae Hong Son Necklace Orange Poi Sang Long Portrait Poy Sang Long Religion Rite of Passage Shan Southeast Asia Tai Yai Thailand Vertical Wat Hua Wiang bold calm comtemplation contemplative novice monk novice monkhood one person ordination of novice monks peaceful relaxed religious events religious festivals restful solemn spiritual thoughtful without hair
Contained in galleries: Rites of Life, In the footsteps of Buddha, Thailand

A novice monk just after he has been ordained at Poy Sang Long, the yearly ordination ceremonies in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, in April 2003. The boy still has some makeup left in his face from when he was earlier dressed up as a prince in memory of the Buddha. Practically every Shan boy goes through the Poy Sang Long sometime between the age of eight and fourteen. After the ordination, the boy spends about one month in a Buddhist monastery, and then he usually returns to normal life again.