Information about Poy Sang Long Ceremony (Wat Pha Bong Nuea)
Poy Sang Long is a Buddhist ordination ceremony for novice monks made by Shan or Tai Yai people , an ethnic group from Myanmar. The young boys are between 7 and 14 years old. The ceremonies usually last at least 3 days. The first day, they mowed the heads of the boys and then they put on the Sang Long dress and get some makeup. The second day is Krua Lu parade day, the boys are carried on the shoulders of their parents or male mentors, their feet should not touch the ground except at home. On the last day called Kam Sang, the novices pay homage to their parents and say goodbye to them before getting rid of their sumptuous clothes to be ordained monks and put on the saffron cloth. This marks their entry into monastic life for a period ranging from a few weeks to a lifetime.
The province of Mae Hong Son is where these ceremonies are most numerous and famous. There are several Poy Sang Long festivals in town, including this one at Wat Pha Bong Nuea but there others and there is also a ceremony in Paï at Wat Sri Don Chai or in Mae Sariang. Wat Pa Pao in Chiang Mai also organizes one. Dates are different. I'm trying to collect them all and put them here in the events in Thailand section. So if the dates of this ceremony do not match those of your stay in Mae Hong Son, try to see if another temple does not have the ceremony while you(re here because it's really worth seeing it !