NEW HOME CELEBRATIONS

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The expression ขึ้นบ้านใหม่ or "KEUN BAAN MAI" means build a new house in Thai language.

The aim of this ceremony is to bless the new house and its inhabitants. Food is prepared for the monks and for the guests.

Many guests are coming and each of them is also bringing food to be offered to monks.

Delicious dishes are prepared such as sweets, spring rolls, vegetables and so on...

Normally monks have to eat a bit of each dish to ensure everybody, who offered a dish, gets some good deeds.

Buckets containing various everyday necessities for monks are offered to them. Such buckets can be purchased in Kowloon City also called "Little Thailand" in Hong Kong.

Monks are invited to the house to bless it. In fact the house's owner must pay through a donation to the Thai Buddhist temple to have monks to come to his house.

Thai Buddhist monks went to the remote home through MTR (Mass Transit Railway)! They start by prayers.

There are three Thai temples in Hong Kong so there are always enough monks to join such important life events.

Buckets and envelopes with money are offered to the monks to thank them for coming for the new home celebrations.

People are touching each other when doing offerings to ensure good deeds are shared between all participants.

After the prayers, food is given and people are touching each other to share good deeds while offering food to monks.

Too much food is given to monks but nothing is lost. When the monks have left, the remaining food is eaten and shared.

Women cannot touch monks so better be careful with giving food to the monks.

When ceremony is over, monks go back to their temple. As a thankful gesture, taxi is paid for their return.

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