Thai Temple Tattoo Frenzy

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In case you missed this year’s tattoo frenzy @ Wat Bang Phra just west of Bangkok in Nakhon Pathom, you better make plans for next year’s frenzy.

As you all know, tattoos carved into your flesh by mantra-praying monks protect against misery, broken hearts, even bullets.

Which is why Thailand is such a peaceful, chosen society. And seeing the frenzy, one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out why the word “amok” roots in the neighboring Malay amuco.

Beware. If coerced or possessed, people of this beautiful region are some quite capable amok runners.




As news agencies reported about the festival: It’s all mystery and magic at a Thai temple tattoo festival. Buddhist monks use traditional tools to tattoo thousands of men who travel from across Thailand to the festival each year to have their bodies adorned with tattoos and pay their respects to the temple’s master tattooist.

They believe the tattoos have mystical powers, warding off bad luck and protecting them from harm.

In a muddy field beside an ancient Buddhist temple, dozens of men covered in tiny intricate tattoos seem to be going crazy.

Watched by a crowd of thousands, one of the men suddenly rises up and lets out a primal scream. For a moment he stands with his fists clenched above his head, the only sign of movement the rising and falling of tattoos on his chest as he breathes.

Then, with another scream, he charges, running and leaping through the crowd, towards the head monk at the front. Five temple workers grab him and wrestle him to the ground, where he lies groaning, the mud coating his tattoos.

Temple workers blow into his ears and slap his face, and suddenly his body flops flat onto the earth. He opens his eyes, looks around, picks himself up and after a little chat to the men who had been restraining him, strolls back to his family.

As this is the Nakhon Pathom tattoo festival.

The markings include ancient symbols drawn from calligraphy and numerology and illustrations of animals and mythical characters.

Some men have tattoos covering most of their bodies, swirling across their shoulders, creeping up the backs of their necks and crawling down their arms.

The men say they become possessed by their tattoo spirit during the ceremony. Several temple workers are on hand to control the men as they rampage around in a trance-like state, but sometimes spectators get caught up in the chaos.

Monks in Nakhon Pathom province have been tattooing people for centuries. The procedure remains traditional, with the monks using foot-long metal pipes to render the images into the flesh of brave candidates.

The needles are dipped in a small jar of antiseptic between “patients” to prevent any spread of disease.

Along with the tattoo comes a special lesson from the monks about how to take care of the “animal spirit” bestowed on the recipient and how each person’s tattoo can protect them from harm.

Many Thais believe sacred tattoos can ward off bad luck and protect the wearer from harm. Legends say ancient Thai warriors had tattoos to protect them from their enemy’s swords.

One of the men at the ceremony said his animal-spirit takes care of him every day and he believes that he survived a serious car accident because of his tattoos.

Asked about the trance that grips him during the ceremony, he says it is a mystery.

“I don’t know. Sometimes I just become like that,” he said.

“I just let go because it’s the day we are here to pay our respect to the temple’s master tattooist. We are not pretending when we do this.”

The ceremony at the temple lasts for hours, with several men becoming possessed and charging towards the stage.

Finally, the tattooed men gather at the front of the crowd to take part in the dramatic conclusion.

The head monk sprays the crowd with water, which locals believe has special power.

The tattooed men explode into a frenzy – more than 50 start screaming and convulsing in front of the elderly monk.

They begin to grab at fruit offerings and sacred string that have been placed on the stage. Those who manage to rip a piece of string from the platform quickly tie it around their wrists and neck to receive the blessing.

Once everything has been removed, the trance ends and the men depart, their tattoos wet and shimmering under the rainy sky.



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  5. Visakha Puja
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March 25, 2008 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Fashion & Style, Health, Body & Mind, Society 

Comments

One Response to “Thai Temple Tattoo Frenzy”

  1. Tony on January 31st, 2010 2.09 pm

    Sawasdee

    I am interested to have my body tattooed in Thailand. I would like to visit thailand in February 2010 and have my magic tattoo perform by a master. I hope you can direct me on how to travel to Wat Bang Phra. What is the time required to reach the temple? Will I be able to find the mantra praying monk when I pay my visit to the temple? Is there any rules I need to know before I pay my respect to the mantra praying monk?

    I hope you can reply to me as I need your feedback and assistance.

    Thank you.

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