Hat Yai: Colorful Songkran in Hat Yai, people and tourists flock to apply gold leaf to the heart of the reclining Buddha at Wat Mahattamangklaram for good fortune, open only once a year.
According to Thai News Agency, the atmosphere of the Songkran Festival in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, is starting to get lively, particularly at Wat Mahattamangkalaram, also known as Wat Hat Yai Nai. The temple is hosting the tradition of ‘Making Merit in the 5th Month, Wrapping the Reclining Buddha with Cloth, Gilding the Buddha’s Heart’ from April 11-15, coinciding with the Songkran Festival, which is a significant merit-making tradition for the people of Hat Yai.
Today marks the first day that both the public and tourists are permitted to apply gold leaf to the heart of Phra Phuttha Mahathamongkhon, located inside the Reclining Buddha. Many might be unaware that a heart resides within the Reclining Buddha, and this unique event is accessible only once a year during the Songkran festival. Visitors, including Thai and Malaysian tourists returning home to Hat Yai District for the festival, arrived early to apply gold leaf to the Buddha’s heart. It is believed that this act brings good fortune, particularly for individuals suffering from heart or blood diseases, with the promise of alleviated symptoms. However, participants are also encouraged to adhere to precepts and Dharma, which are believed to garner love from both deities and fellow humans.
The tradition of making merit in the fifth month, draping the Reclining Buddha, holds significant cultural importance for the southern people. It is noted that in the tenth month, the Buddha’s face must be seen, and in the fifth month, its body must be visible. This occasion also serves as a reunion for families to gather, make merit, and pay respect to their ancestors who have passed away.