CityNews – Inviting the ‘Phra Jao Saen Ha’ Buddha image to join a ceremony in a parade around the city to invite rain.
On 30th May, there will be a ceremony to ask for rain, an event which will continue until the 6th June.
Today, 22nd May, at the Provincial Hall, the Cultural Council of Chiang Mai announced that the annual Inthakin ceremony will be held at Wat Chedi Luang between 30th May and 6th June, starting at 4pm on the 30th May.
The Inthakin Ceremony, or City Pillar Ceremony, is a unique Chiang Mai tradition held annually during the same period each year. Wat Chedi Luang is where the City Pillar is located and is considered a very sacred and important temple in the Lanna Kingdom.
On the morning of the 30th the sangha (monks) will invite the Buddha image from Wat Chang Taem into Wat Chedi Luang, where a procession of government and municipal officials, and faithful Buddhists, will walk the statue to arrive at Wat Chedi Luang at precisely 2.09pm when there will be a rain ceremony.
The procession will then leave Wat Chedi Luang and walk down Prapokklao Road, past the Three Kings Monument, down Ratwitthis Road, down Thai Pae, Rachadamnoen roads to the Klang Vieng Junction, back up Prapokklao Road back into Wat Chedi Luang.
On the 3rd June onwards there will also be big drums performances from 7pm onwards.
Each day the public can also come from 8am onwards to pour holy water onto the Phra Jao Saen Ha to honour the new King Rama X as well as place gold leafs on Buddha statues.
Everyone is invited to come along, pay respects and join in. Please wear traditional Lanna costumes, or polite wear and act respectfully of the traditions and auspicious occasion.