While leading a photography tour with one of my guest in the Cambodian countryside, we unexpectedly stumbled upon a unusual Buddhist ceremony at a local pagoda: many families were there busy preparing offering and several young Cambodian boys with shaved heads were wearing colorful dresses and make-up. One of them was actually crying.
We learned later that this 2-day ceremony was inspired by the Dragon Monk Legend: a long time ago, a dragon (Neak in Khmer language) who took the form of a man was ordained monk by Buddha. While taking a nap, the monk changed back to dragon and the trick was discovered. The legend lived until this day as the ceremony of the dragon is taking place when a Cambodian man wants to become a monk either for few years or longer.
We were lucky to be the only outsiders taken pictures of this ceremony of the 9 monks to be ordained. Future monks had their head and eyebrows shaved and were dressed up with the with a colorful sampot (an ancient long traditional saron) and a lace top along with some jewellery. They also applied lipstick to make themselves more beautiful, something which can be seen in the temples of Angkor done by locals on some Buddha and Devata statues.
At one point of the ceremony, beautiful horses were brought in and monks rode them to take part of a procession going back to the city few miles away. Some women carried colorful boxes containing the robe of the monks that they will be wearing the next day.
When back from the city, a large crowd did a circumambulation (3 times) before entering the pagoda where the monks were been ordained by higher monks.
If you are visiting Siem Reap and want to document this special Buddhist ceremony please get in touch with us.
Dragon monks praying Buddha
Dragon monk in a colorful pagoda
A soon to be ordained monk adjusting his colorful sampot
Khmer family dressing session in pagoda
Dragon monk wearing a pink sampot
Young dragon monk wearing a lace top outfit
Dragon monk posing with his offerings
Dragon monk dressed with a sampot in the monastery
The nine to be ordained monks kneeling and praying
Elderly Cambodian women at the Dragon ceremony
Elderly Cambodian woman in front of a colorful pagoda mural
Colorful box containing the robe of a future monk
Procession going from the pagoda to the city on foot
Dragon monk riding a colorful horse on his way to the city
Dragon monk riding a colorful horse on his way to the city
Monk waiting by the pagoda’s entrance
Young Cambodian kid with colorful paint on his face
Crowd gathered in front of the pagoda for the final ceremony
