Phra Khru Khitiwan Nobon of Wat Nong Bua, Cremation. Thailand.

Noot and I went to the funeral rites at our local temple for the former abbot of Nong Bua Temple, Phra Khru Khitiwan Nobon. To see any of the pictures in larger sizes, just click on one and go to my Flickr page.

The funeral pyre (Is this what you would call it?) was set-up beautifully. The abbot was on display in a glass case for people to go and pay respect to him.

On the night of the cremation, there were many monks in attendance and also locals.

Phra Khru Khitiwan Nobon display coffin.

Before the cremation could start they needed to remove the monk from his display coffin.

The helpers closed the curtains and went to work in disassembling the glass showing coffin.


In a pretty short time they had removed the glass coffin.

The monks then made their way to the body and placed a single incense stick in the coffin with the body.

Here some novice monks descend the funeral pyre. Then important guests made their way up the funeral pyre where they placed a small flower made from wood shavings, called dok mai jan, in with the body.

Then a display happened. First some very loud small rockets flew across wires that had been set up above the crowd. Eventually one returned to the funeral pyre lighting the fire for the cremation to begin. This started a small pyrotechnics display.

This sign lit up, the top announces the cremation and the bottom is the name of the monk.

Then some very bright fireworks lit the area near the funeral pyre.

These pyrotechnics actually looked excellent in person and grew in brightness as they burnt. You can see the flames coming out of the coffin.

Then there was a fireworks display.













As the crowd started to disperse some people ascended the funeral pyre to add their dok mai jan to the coffin.

That is the funeral of Phra Khru Khitiwan Nobon from Wat Nong Bua Temple, Ubon Ratchathani.

Brunty.