Bangkok: The Nakhon Ratchasima Buddhist Office has expressed strong disapproval over an incident involving impersonators of Buddhist monks who were seen dancing on stage alongside women in revealing outfits. The office criticized the event for tarnishing the religion's reputation and announced that it is considering filing a police report.
According to Thai News Agency, the controversy erupted after images from a pomelo festival in Suang Neun District circulated online. The images, taken on the evening of August 31, 2026, depicted two men dressed as Buddhist monks carrying alms bowls, accompanied by a temple boy, in front of a stage where a female band in revealing attire performed for a large audience. The images triggered widespread criticism, with many questioning the appropriateness of the spectacle and demanding an explanation, citing concerns that such portrayals could offend Buddhist sentiments.
The director of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Office of Buddhism commented that using the attire and appearance of monks and novices for humorous content or online attention is unsuitable. He called for an end to such practices, emphasizing that religion should not be exploited as a tool for creating online trends.
Further concerns were raised about the potential normalization of such behavior, which could lead to copycat incidents. It was mentioned that legal action might be pursued against those who mock or imitate Buddhist monks in the future, to deter negative societal examples.