Legendary Hero of "Soy Dao Nong Chim"

Legendary Hero of "Soy Dao Nong Chim"

I'd like to tell you about the important major merit-making tradition that is indispensable for Ban Nong Chim:

"Bun Duean Sam" (Third Lunar Month Merit-Making)

Let me share this from the perspective of someone born and raised here, as the child of Boonthan Aatkla, who devoted himself to the Soy Dao festival every year for more than 50 years. I was born and saw this right away, so to speak.

Our Ta Than participated since he was a young man, during the time of Luang Pu Sing (Chao Phra Than Phra Khru Wibunchaiwat). As far as I can remember, he was very interested. Ta Than often took me to pay respects to him.
Later it was Phra Khru Sittichasar (Luang Pu Simma).
And later Phra Khru Sutthiwaranuwat (Phra Khru Keng), the current abbot of the temple.

In the old days, Ta Than and the villagers would prepare for the event together, including:
- Going together to find bok khorn pods, round and large ones, to prepare and wrap into Soy Dao
- Gathering together to arrange glass paper to prepare and decorate the Soy Dao towers
- Ta Boonthan taking me on a raft to ask for prize donations from other communities and villages
- Finding bok Kham (tamarind tree) trees to make Soy Dao towers, arrange arches, and hang Soy Dao, etc.

These days, following modern times, it has become a new method for convenience: the "Lung Wai Sawat Pha Chok" (heavenly jar of fortune) raffle.

Just a few years ago, Ta Boonthan also gave fortune to the villagers with prizes of gold necklaces and rings at the Soy Dao event. It was so exciting and fun throughout the event as well.

Another thing that Ta Boonthan did throughout his more than 50 years in this activity was "sleeping to guard the Soy Dao arch (the heavenly jar of fortune arch) every night until dawn," watching over and taking care of the arch. The household knew that Ta Than came to sleep at the arch for 3 days and 3 nights (the children could sneak off to have fun).

If you compare, at the Soy Dao festival, Ta Boonthan would definitely be at the top - that is:

"When you think of Soy Dao, you must think of Ta Boonthan"

Let me add more information:

The tradition that clearly appears at Wat Sutthiwannaram is the Bun Duean Sam activity of gilding the replica Buddha footprint, which is a merit-making event that connects the villagers' faith with Buddhist beliefs. The replica Buddha footprint symbolizes the Buddha's walking path and the path of Dharma that Buddhists adhere to. Gilding it is thus an expression of respect for the Buddha's virtues and a way of setting one's mind for auspiciousness.

Bun Duean Sam means more than individual merit-making, because it is a time when the community comes together, when children and grandchildren working elsewhere return home, when the elderly participate in familiar ceremonies, and when children and youth see images of villagers joining hands and hearts. The merit-making event is thus a space that naturally transmits culture from generation to generation. Wat Sutthiwannaram is therefore the central pillar that keeps the tradition unbroken and still meaningful in the villagers' lives.

.. Thank you very much