TAN TOD CEREMONY: THE MERIT-MAKING OF BUDHIST IN SRIDONCHAI COMMUNITY, MAUNG DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINC

Abstract

The thesis entitled “Tan Tod ceremony: The merit-making of Buddhists in Sridonchai community, Mueang district, Lampang province” consisted of two objectives. The study aimed: 1) to study the background of Tan Tod ceremony and 2) to study the merit-making through the Tan Tod ceremony of Buddhist in Sridonchai community, Mueang district, Lampang province. The research instruments were focus group discussion and the in-depth interview. The data was created through the descriptive analysis. From the study, it was found that the Tan Tod ceremony was a ceremony of giving (dána) in the North of Thailand for the elderly monks, ill monks and poor people in the community. The ceremony was conducted by contributing stuff and equipment that were necessary for living by which the recipients could not know who were the givers. There were two ways of giving, namely, specified recipients and non-specified recipients. In another word, anyone found the necessary appliance that they wanted, they could simply take it away. This was a kind of giving that the givers did not expect anything in return or any recompense. This showed the generosity, the participation in helping each other, love and harmony among the people in the community. Through the Tan Tod ceremony, the merit-making of Sridonchai community started by helping poor people in the society through the selection and the conclusion must by agreed by everyone. To donate stuff and equipment that were necessary for living showed the harmony and unity among the people in the community that helped bringing about the ceremony and proceeded it until it's finished resulting in the joy and happiness of both the givers and recipients, which was the basis of the coexistence of the people in the community and helped strengthening the community, therefore, this Tan Tod ceremony had been carried out every year.