The Morning Rite of Giving Alms in Luang Prabang 01/07/2021 Recognised as one of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage sites in 2000, Luang Prabang is a popular destination for tourists all around the world. It is also known as one of the Buddhist hubs in the region with more than 40 pagodas scattered around the city. Visitors to the city enjoy watching people offering alms to Buddhist monks, which has long been a solemn ritual called Tak Bat. Around 6am, monks in each pagoda line up with the head monk leading, wear bowls with straps winding over their shoulders and walk barefoot through the streets to collect alms given by lay people. Offerings are often steamed sticky rice, sweet snacks and fruit. The monks not only receive alms, but also give what have just been offered to needy people they encounter during their walk. Over time, the image of tangerine-robed monks on their alms rounds has become one of the city’s symbolic attractions. After 40 minutes of alms collecting, the monks go back to their pagodas.A Luang Prabang resident prepares alms to offer to monks.The image of monks in tangerine coloured robes on their alms rounds has become a symbol of Luang Prabang.Monks often share their alms with needy people during the rounds.Many foreign tourists participate in the morning alms giving ritual.People hand out offerings to monks in front of Wat Xieng Thong Pagoda. A Luang Prabang woman performs rites before giving steamed sticky rice to the monks.Each monk wears a bowl with a strap winding over his shoulder to contain alms offered by people. Monks from each pagoda walk in a single line led by the abbot.Around 6 am, monks depart their monasteries to go on their alms rounds through the streets.Alms given to monks are often steamed sticky rice, sweet snacks, or fruit.The image of monks parading through the streets at dawn has become an iconic image of Luang Prabang Monks from different temples line up in a single line on the alms round. By Viet Cuong
The Morning Rite of Giving Alms in Luang Prabang 01/07/2021 Recognised as one of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage sites in 2000, Luang Prabang is a popular destination for tourists all around the world. It is also known as one of the Buddhist hubs in the region with more than 40 pagodas scattered around the city. Visitors to the city enjoy watching people offering alms to Buddhist monks, which has long been a solemn ritual called Tak Bat. Around 6am, monks in each pagoda line up with the head monk leading, wear bowls with straps winding over their shoulders and walk barefoot through the streets to collect alms given by lay people. Offerings are often steamed sticky rice, sweet snacks and fruit. The monks not only receive alms, but also give what have just been offered to needy people they encounter during their walk. Over time, the image of tangerine-robed monks on their alms rounds has become one of the city’s symbolic attractions. After 40 minutes of alms collecting, the monks go back to their pagodas.A Luang Prabang resident prepares alms to offer to monks.The image of monks in tangerine coloured robes on their alms rounds has become a symbol of Luang Prabang.Monks often share their alms with needy people during the rounds.Many foreign tourists participate in the morning alms giving ritual.People hand out offerings to monks in front of Wat Xieng Thong Pagoda. A Luang Prabang woman performs rites before giving steamed sticky rice to the monks.Each monk wears a bowl with a strap winding over his shoulder to contain alms offered by people. Monks from each pagoda walk in a single line led by the abbot.Around 6 am, monks depart their monasteries to go on their alms rounds through the streets.Alms given to monks are often steamed sticky rice, sweet snacks, or fruit.The image of monks parading through the streets at dawn has become an iconic image of Luang Prabang Monks from different temples line up in a single line on the alms round. By Viet Cuong
Recognised as one of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage sites in 2000, Luang Prabang is a popular destination for tourists all around the world. It is also known as one of the Buddhist hubs in the region with more than 40 pagodas scattered around the city. Visitors to the city enjoy watching people offering alms to Buddhist monks, which has long been a solemn ritual called Tak Bat. Around 6am, monks in each pagoda line up with the head monk leading, wear bowls with straps winding over their shoulders and walk barefoot through the streets to collect alms given by lay people. Offerings are often steamed sticky rice, sweet snacks and fruit. The monks not only receive alms, but also give what have just been offered to needy people they encounter during their walk. Over time, the image of tangerine-robed monks on their alms rounds has become one of the city’s symbolic attractions. After 40 minutes of alms collecting, the monks go back to their pagodas.A Luang Prabang resident prepares alms to offer to monks.The image of monks in tangerine coloured robes on their alms rounds has become a symbol of Luang Prabang.Monks often share their alms with needy people during the rounds.Many foreign tourists participate in the morning alms giving ritual.People hand out offerings to monks in front of Wat Xieng Thong Pagoda. A Luang Prabang woman performs rites before giving steamed sticky rice to the monks.Each monk wears a bowl with a strap winding over his shoulder to contain alms offered by people. Monks from each pagoda walk in a single line led by the abbot.Around 6 am, monks depart their monasteries to go on their alms rounds through the streets.Alms given to monks are often steamed sticky rice, sweet snacks, or fruit.The image of monks parading through the streets at dawn has become an iconic image of Luang Prabang Monks from different temples line up in a single line on the alms round. By Viet Cuong