Birthday treat

Each year on his birthday, Luang Phoo Budda Thawaro, dressed in a new orange robe, stands before worshipers at a monastery in Thailand – even though he has been dead since 1994. Luang Phoo was a monk for more than 70 years. During his lifetime he survived wars, civil strife, dictatorships, and military coups. A hugely admired figure, his charisma drew worshipers to the temple from far and wide. In this annual Buddhist ceremony, the revered former abbot of Wat Krang Chu Si Charoensuk monastery, near Bangkok, is lifted from his glass coffin, cleansed, given a change of clothes and honored by the local community. His fellow monks are able to dress the corpse in a new robe and socks because his body as not decomposed.



Instead it has mummified, supposedly because Luang Phoo dehydrated himself on his deathbed. Custom dictates that a monk who does not decompose after death should be preserved and worshiped. Once Luang Phoo has been dressed, the congregation places tiny flakes of gold leaf on his face and families have their picture taken with him. When the ceremony is over, the monks carefully maneuver Luang’s body back into his coffin, which is then returned to its place in the prayer hall. There he rests in peace until his next public appearance in 12 months time.