Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Tattoo Festival - Wat Bang Phra (งานพิธีไหว้ครู วัดบางพระ)

The annual Wai Khru Ceremony (Tattoo Festival)
พิธีไหว้ครูหลวงพ่อเปิ่น(วัดบางพระ) วันเสาร์ที่ 23 มีนาคม 2556 
เวลา 9.39 นาที ณ วัดบางพระ ต.บางแก้วฟ้า 
อ.นครชัยศรี จ.นครปฐม

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme
พิธีไหว้ครูหลวงพ่อเปิ่น(วัดบางพระ)

The Blessing & Resuscitation of the Yantra Tattoos

Wat Bang Pra (วัดบางพระ) is a Buddhist temple located on the banks of the Nakorn Chaisi river in Nakom Pathom, Thailand. The temple is famous for its monks and their practice of giving "Sak Yant" tattoos with wooden bamboo needless. Many believe that protective energy flows through these types of  tattoos, keeping them safe from harm.  It is not simply about getting a talisman tattoo here. The owner must activate it in order for it to serve as a lifesaving conduit.

The owner must respect the precepts set by the head master. Devotees return here annually to recharge their tattoos and the experience is quite exhilarating to witness.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

The  "Wai Khru Ceremony" or "tattoo festival" (for non thai language speakers) is held on the temple grounds annually around the first Saturday in March. The exact dates are announced after the monks decide upon the most auspicious time. The trip from Bangkok takes around 45 minutes by car, longer if you take public transportation.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

There are many other "Sak Yant สักยันต์" tattoo masters in Thailand but Wat Bang Phra is by far the most famous and has probably contributed more to the fame of the "Sak Yant สักยันต์" tattoo than any other temple in Thailand.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

People begin to arrive in the thousands the evening before the event.  The following day during the morning ceremony the tattoos are blessed and their power recharged with new energy and magic which they believe protects them from danger and evil.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

They sit and meditate in the  large open parking lot inside the front section of the temple while listening to the prayers and chanting from the monks on the main stage.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

At the pinnacle moment when the recharging has completed, some of the devotee transform themselves into animals, imitating them to the best of their ability.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

Sounds of monkeys, dogs, elephants, crocodiles, screams and maniacal laughing can be heard across the temple compound.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

They run, crawl and slither on the grounds of the temple's parking lot.  Most run towards the main stage at full speed where the monks are chanting.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

Not everyone is graceful, many stumble and fall into the crowds hurting themselves and other people.   Everyone seems to be screaming, praying or both. It is madness. This lasts for a couple of hours. When things take off they happen really fast. The experience is really quite fascinating.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

Security is usually  provide by soldiers, body snatchers and / or other civic groups of volunteers whose main goal is to catch and calm the possessed devotees. Rubbing the ears calms the possessed and they snap back into reality, slowly walking back to their seats and starting the entire process over again.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme

They scan the rows trying to figure out where the next assault will come from next. Sometimes it comes one at a time and others in large groups. You can tell by their expressions that this is extremely strenuous and taxing work. The best places for photographs are unfortunately also the most dangerous. You can sit among the people praying, in front of the main stage or off to one of the sides.

Tattoo Festival Wat Bang Phra © 2013 Michael LaPalme
งานพิธีไหว้ครู วัดบางพระ © 2009 Michael LaPalme
Tourists, spectators and photographers who turn their back to the crowd are at risk for a head on collision which can break expensive camera gear and even human bones. The risk of danger varies greatly depending on where you are located inside the temple. Rule of thumb is to never turn your back on the crowd.

For those people interested in getting a tattoo at the temple there are some additional instructions on the steps involved once you arrive here.

For those interested in the topic of Yantra tattoos สักยันต์, the following books are highly recommended:


Wat Bang Phra is located at:

Phra Udomprachanat (Luang Por Phern)
Wat Bang Phra, Tambol Ban Gaew Fa
Amphor Nakornchaisri, Nakornpathom

In Thai to print for Taxi driver:

วัดบางพระ (วัดหลวงพ่อเปิ่น)
ต.บางแก้วฟ้า, อ.นครชัยศรี, จ.นครปฐม

GPS Coordinates are N 13 53.846 E 100 12.773

Tel: +66(0)34389333

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2 comments:

  1. Great write up! I was planning to visit Wat Bang Phra on the morning of the 22nd to get a tattoo, before I realized the festival is the 23rd. Do you know if the monks will be doing tattoos on the morning of the 22nd?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks! I'm pretty sure they do them every day. There is more info here: http://wheresidewalksend.com/sak-yant-thailand/

    ReplyDelete

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