Wai Khru Day Isaan Thailand 2009

I had reported on our Wai Khruu Day or pay respect to teachers here in Isaan Thailand. I have blogged about making our way to our destination where the ceremony was being held and also the full practice ceremony that was taking place.

Finally after an hour and a half of practice, the real ceremony started. I was well away from the hall and heard the Assumption School song and quickly made my way back to find Brother Sadka doing the opening rituals.

There were senior teachers, past and present on the stage and some VIP guests.

There were more VIP guests on hand.

Also VIP parents, or parents with nothing else to do and had time to attend the ceremony.

The students stood and repeated a prayer.

The stage.

Some senior dux students then paid their respects to our Brothers.

Then some of the VIP guests paid respect to there past and current teachers. This was very pleasing to see. This was humbling to see people who have a lot of respect and also power because of their status showing this side of themselves.

Assumption is 50 years old and former students who are now successful have returned to show their respect to their old teachers.

The Sunee Grand Hotel Convention Hall.

The students in a low and respectful bow.

It was finally time for students to offer the flowers to their homeroom teachers.

Each Class pools their money; some classes spend lots, a few thousand Baht for their offering.

The designs vary greatly depending on the chosen pupil of each class who is in charge of making the purchase or some even make their own offering. Each small flower on this offering is pinned into a foam base. That is a lot of pins.

This was my favourite, it looked so beautiful, the student or students who chose it did very well.

A student is paying respect to his teacher before offering her his gift.

An EBP teacher with her flower gift.

I thought that this would now bring the ceremony to a close and the Thai dancers would come out and finish the show. I was wrong, there was still plenty to do I found out but will blog on this another time.

Brunty