Poy Sang Long Ceremony Mae Sot

Poy Lang Song is a traditional ceremony carried out amongst the Shan people of Myanmar and northern Thailand to initiate young boys as Buddhist novices. During the dazzling celebration, boys between the ages of seven and 14 take monastic vows, which is thought to bestow great honour upon their families.

Each year, the spectacular event falls in the dry season between March and May, typically after the harvest and during the school break. The rite represents the early childhood of the Buddha himself.

Poy Sang Long in Mae Sot

In Mae Sot, festivities centre around the awe-inspiring Wat Thai Wattanaram. The ceremony takes place over a period of three days and is packed with events from feasting and gift-giving, to ritual bathing and musical performances.

On the first day of the festival, the young participants shave their heads and don extravagant traditional clothing and headgear, as well as adorning their faces with makeup. From this point onwards, the boys are believed to attain semi-divine status for the remainder of the ceremony. As a result, their feet are not allowed to touch the ground. For visitors, the second day of the festivities is the highlight, where the young novices are carried on their fathers’ shoulders as part of the parade. On the third day of the festival, ordination ceremonies are conducted. The boys also visit relatives’ homes to pray for their families.

Getting to Mae Sot

Nok Air operates daily flights between Mae Sot’s small airport and Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport. There are also regular buses from Bangkok’s Mo Chit bus station. Once you arrive, the central area of the city can be navigated on foot.