Thai cave boys get heads shaved as they prepare to be ordained as Buddhist novices
The boys will live for nine days in a Buddhist temple – a promise made by their families in thanks for their safe return and in memory of one rescuer who died
The young soccer teammates and their coach who were rescued after being trapped in a cave in northern Thailand had their heads shaved in a ceremony on Tuesday as they prepared to be ordained as Buddhist novices and monks.
Eleven of the 12 boys and their coach prayed to ancient relics and offered drinks and desserts in gilded bowls to spirits at a Buddhist temple. The 12th team member who was trapped in the cave did not take part because he isn’t Buddhist.
The boys, whose ages range from 11 to 16, will be ordained to become Buddhist novices in a ceremony on Wednesday, while the 25-year-old coach will be ordained as a monk, said Parchon Pratsakul, the governor of Chiang Rai province.
Wednesday’s ordainment ceremony will take place at another temple on a Chiang Rai mountaintop before the group returns to live for more than a week at the Wat Pha That Doi Wao temple near Thailand’s northern border with Myanmar. That temple is close to the group’s homes, making it easier for friends and relatives to visit.
“This temple will be where they will reside after the ordination and I hope they will find peace, strength and wisdom from practicing Buddha’s teaching,” said acting abbot Phra Khru Prayutjetiyanukarn.