IF ANY TROUBLES WITH SEARCHING PLEASE LOOK ON THE SPOILER, IT'S
VERY CLEAR!!! Wat Suthat is one of the oldest and largest temples
in Bangkok, famed for its beautiful roofline, huge golden Buddha,
magnificent frescoes and giant swing out front. History
Wat Suthat was begun by King Rama I (1782-1809), founder of the
Chakri dynasty, soon after his coronation. It was continued by Rama
II (1809-24) and completed by Rama III (1824-51).
Rama I brought the temple's main Buddha image to Bangkok by
river from Sukothai. On its arrival, the king declared seven days
of festivities and the bronze statue was paraded through the
streets on the way to the wihan built specially for it at Wat
Suthat. Rama himself walked barefoot in the procession and it is
said he was so exhausted by the time he arrived that he staggered
into the temple.
A huge red teak arch, carved under Rama II, is all that remains
of an original giant swing, which was used to celebrate and thank
Shiva for a bountiful rice harvest and to ask for the god's
blessing on the next.
The minister of rice, accompanied by hundreds of Brahman court
astrologers, would lead a parade around the city walls to the
temple precinct. Teams of men would ride the swing on arcs as high
as 82 feet in the air, trying to grab a bag of silver coins with
their teeth.
Due to injuries and deaths, the dangerous swing ceremony was
discontinued in 1932, but the thanksgiving festival is still
celebrated in mid-December after the rice harvest.
IN: Muszla z Pobierowa, Skipper the penguin
Regards
okT
Canister changed by ZBangkok, thanks :D
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