As most Thai people are Buddhists, their lifestyle is inextricably linked to the Wat (temple), which symbolizes the Buddhist religion and monks. All Thais are generally familiar with Tak Bat, the practice of making a food offering to monks that has been passed down from generation to generation among Buddhist Thais.
Tak Bat involves the preparation of food, sweets and fresh flowers to offer to monks early in the morning when they collect alms from the people. In olden days, Thai folk made food offerings to monks every day. But the pressures of daily life has meant people nowadays opt to make food offerings on certain occasions such as birthday anniversaries, New Year's Day and other auspicious occasions.
The practice of Tak Bat is believed to be a means for accumulating merit for the next life; so many people prepare food they like as an offering to monks.
To make a food offering to a monk, food, sweets and flowers must be prepared as a first stage. Those who offer alms should take off their shoes. The first step is to place rice in the monk's alms bowl, followed by other dishes and desserts. After the monk closes the alms bowl, flowers are placed on the lid. Then the alms giver pays respect to the monk who, in return, offer a blessing. Later, they pour water onto a container as a sign of dedicating merit to deceased ancestors and enemies from former lives.
