A temple in Bangkok, Thailand, attracts more than 100 people to a special ceremony every day.
These people lie in coffins with flowers in their hands, hoping to give themselves a new start through this form of “funeral”.
Similar rituals are reportedly held in many temples in Thailand, which have become more popular during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the Nai temple in Punna district of Bangkok, people follow the instructions of monks in the coffin, facing west, holding a bouquet of flowers and covering sheets, and monks singing next to them.
Participants in the ceremony need to pay 100 tb ($4) to buy flowers, candles and clothing.
Natsarang Sihad, 52, owner of snack stand, attended the ceremony.
He said, “I must admit that I am under a lot of pressure these days.
Because of the pandemic, my income has decreased, and I believe everyone here feels the same way.
I feel like I’ve been reborn, resurrected, and become a brand new person.”
Shaunat Nimanwa, 23, said she attended the ceremony because the fortune teller told her that her life was in danger.”
It puts a lot of stress on me, that’s why I’m here and I want to relieve some of the stress.”
Prakru, a monk who presided over the ceremony at Nai Temple, said that the ceremony had received some criticism online, but he believed that it was important to think about death.
He said: “It’s a reminder that we will die one day, so we must carefully consider the way we live.”
