406 Part V: Southeast Asia
enthusiastic cheerleader who led the families in congratulatory shouts of “chai-
yo!” as they circumambulated the main chapel three times. Family members car-
ried plastic-wrapped commercially prepared bundles that are the standardized
gifts for monks. Each bundle contained an ochre robe, soap, matches, tinned
fruit, tissue paper, incense, detergent, toothpaste and toothbrush, and candles—
items a modern monk would need. At the rear of this party were the two nov-
ices—the young unmarried man of 19, and the middle-aged man whose wife
walked in front of him. Both were wearing white clothes and carrying an
unopened white lotus blossom in their folded hands. A final member of the
party brought up the rear holding a large umbrella over the heads of the initiates.
After circumambulating the chapel three times, they halted at the entrance
to have their feet washed by family members and to toss a handful of coins as a
sign of renunciation of wealth. There was a scramble to catch these lucky coins
by children hanging out at the wat.
A huge image of Buddha dominates the chapel. The space in front of it is
divided into two sections; on the right there is a raised platform where a hundred
monks may sit, while laymen and family members sit on a lower level on the left.
With their new orange robes carried folded in their arms, the initiates ascended
the dais and bowed before the officiating monk, who instructed in the rules ofBuddhist ordination in Ayutthaya. The man in white is about to be ordained a monk
for the period of the rainy season. He carries a white lotus blossom and is surrounded
by family members bringing gifts to offer to the new monk. He will take vows of obedi-
ence to the Vinaya rules and then exchange the white robes of the novice for the orange
robe of the monk.