Poi Sang Long 1st-10th April

Jeweled princes are prepared to enter the monkshood in Mae Hong Sorn. A tradition of the Thai Yai tribe in the Shan states that border Myanmar.

According to legend the custom started with the first Buddhist "novice" Prince Yahura, the Buddha's own son who gave up his lavish lifestyle to follow his fathers spiritual teaching.

Before the start of the three-day festival, the boys have their heads shaved by parents and relatives. Then they are bathed in herbal water before spending the night in the temple.

On the first morning of Poy Sang Long, the boys are lavishly made up and dressed to look princes of a bygone era. Each are assigned three attendants, one to carry the boy, another to carry the umbrella shading him from the sun and the third to guard the boy princes precious jewels - only fakes but they look very impressive. For the next three days the boys are carried around the town escorted by their attendants. They only touch the ground either inside a family home or a temple. Friends and relatives are eager to greet their princely relatives, as they believe it will bring good luck.

Glasses of rice wine are consumed in great quantity by the helper and the music reaches a crescendo as the make their way around town.

Finally the procession arrives at the temple, led by musicians with mothers and sisters of the boys trailing behind in all their finery. As the attendants stomp to the music and enjoy a little more of the rice wine their attention to shading the boys wanders, the jeweled princes start to melt as they cling on tight to their attendants. Finally inside Pa Pao Temple, a cool but crumbling Burmese style temple the boys pay their respects to the monks and their families follow with generous gifts.

The extravagant spectacle of Poy Sang Long is over for another year. A special feast follows for the boys for after the have entered the monastery as monks they are not allowed to eat after midday.

This is the point when the extravagance comes to an end. The boys ask permission of the senior to be ordained. Once this has been granted they start the process of removing the elaborate make and costumes and change into the saffron robes provided by their parents. The ordination of a son into the monkshood is a proud moment for all Buddhist parents, as they believe it will give them the highest merit. For the boys it will be the memory of a special occasion and will last with them forever.