How To Experience Alms Giving Ceremony In Luang Prabang
The alms giving ceremony in Luang Prabang, known as tak bat locally is considered to be one of the best things to experience in this ancient town in Laos.
I spent five days exploring the sleepy temple town of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage site in northern Laos at the end of our Indochina trip. One moment that really stood out to me was taking part in the traditional ceremony of morning Alms that takes place daily on the streets of Luang Prabang.
What is the Luang Prabang Alms Giving ceremony?
The Alms Giving ceremony in Luang Prabang is a traditional Buddhist ritual that takes place at sunrise every day. This ceremony is known locally as Tak Bat or Sai Bat and involves the giving of alms (donations) to Buddhist monks by the local residents, devout Buddhists and tourists.
This is a longstanding tradition in Laos Buddhist culture where local people will give alms to the monks. Silence is meant to be observed during this time and alms-giving is a peaceful, simple and moving experience. You may also feel as though you are have travelled back in time, it’s that simple and wholesome.
The Alms Giving ceremony in Luang Prabang is something you won’t want to miss during your time here in Laos. It is well worth waking up early for this unique experience.
How to experience the sacred Alms Giving ceremony in Luang Prabang
There are two ways to experience the Luang Prabang Alms giving ceremony. You can either buy food from your hotel in advance or at the local markets and take a seat on the streets to make your offerings and participate in the experience. Alternatively, you can observe the procession from a distance.
Regardless of whether you wish to participate or observe, you should arrive before sunrise to find a spot to position yourself before the ceremony starts. It is considered very offensive to disrupt the monks and the ceremony once it begins.
Avoid following the procession and moving around a lot. It’s best to try and find a comfortable place across the street to view the ritual and then stay in the same spot until it ends and the monks have passed.
If you choose to observe, remember to maintain an appropriate distance from the ceremony so that you don’t get in the way of those participating in almsgiving. Observe in silence; if you need to talk to someone, do it quietly.
Taking photos is allowed while observing from a distance, but you may not stand in front of the monks and break their lines. Your flash must be turned off and phones should be on silent mode throughout the ceremony.
When and where does the Alms Giving Ceremony take place?
The Alms Giving ceremony in Luang Prabang takes place at dawn, along the main streets. You will usually see the streets lined with small chairs. We stayed at Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum and chose to participate outside our hotel by informing them the day before and paying around $7.50 per person for the food we were offering.
Waking up at 4am, we didn’t have far to go to witness this extraordinary age-old tradition. The hotel had set up our chairs and offerings, dressed us in the traditional wear, explained the rules and showed us how to place the food into the alms bowls, moments before the monks arrived.
Silently, the monks filed past and we placed small handfuls of rice, eggs and oranges into their pots.
I recently discovered that the alms giving ceremony doesn’t just take place in Luang Prabang, but in villages and towns throughout Laos as well as in Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand, to name a few. Laos is the only place I have ever experienced this wonderful tradition though.
Watch the vlog of our experience below..
Buddhist Monks’ procession
Buddhist monks from the various temples in Luang Prabang walk in a silent procession through the streets. They walk barefoot in a line, carrying their alms bowls.
All dressed in orange robes, the age range of the monks was vast, with some not much older than around 8 and others who had lived at the temples for over 30 years.
The young Buddhist monks are called novices. Almost all the boys in Laos will do a stint at as a monk at some point in their life. Whether it be for a few weeks or a few years, it is seen as an essential part of adolescence in their culture.
What are the offerings?
The alms-giving offerings, consist mainly of sticky rice, fruit, eggs and other sweet treats; all things to form the monks’ daily meal.
As the monks walk by, you place the items in their alms bowls using your hands. You never hand any gift directly to a monk; you must place it in his bowl.
It literally is a case of scooping up a handful of rice with your hand and placing it into their bowls. It’s essential to approach this act with respect and follow local customs and guidelines.
Observing local customs and guidelines for almsgiving
During the alms-giving, it’s customary for both the monks and the people offering alms to maintain silence and focus on the spiritual aspect of the ceremony.
- Observe silence throughout the ceremony.
- You must remove your shoes and socks and tuck your feet underneath you.
- Dress modestly; covering your knees and shoulders.
- Female participants must keep their head lower than the monks when giving alms.
- Do not talk, touch or make eye contact with the monks at any time during the ceremony.
This is a very serious religious ceremony for the people of Laos and tourists are welcome to participate respectfully. With more than 30 active Buddhist monasteries in Luang Prabang, the long column of monks walking silently and barefoot to receive their alms from people kneeling before them is certainly a sight to behold.
The spiritual merit of alms giving
For the locals, giving alms to monks is not only a way of supporting the Sangha (the Buddhist monastic community) but also an opportunity to gain spiritual merit. The act of giving is considered a means of creating positive karma.
The Alms Giving ceremony in Luang Prabang is a significant cultural and religious practice in the region, attracting both local devotees and tourists interested in experiencing and respecting this ancient tradition. Visitors are encouraged to participate respectfully, adhering to the customs and guidelines to ensure the ceremony’s authenticity and sanctity. It’s important for participants to dress modestly and behave in a way that reflects the solemnity of the event.
Taking part in the local Alms ceremony Luang Prabang allows you connect more deeply with this very special, spiritual town.
