Ceremonies and Beliefs of Shrine in study case of Lao Wient, Bang pla ma District, Suphanburi Province.

Abstract

The purposes of this qualitative research were: 1) to study the wisdom of rituals and beliefs about the Lao Wiang community's shrines, at Moo 8, Jorakheyai sub-district, and Moo 10 Kokkram sub-district,    Bang pla ma district, Suphanburi province, and 2) to study the existence of rituals, beliefs and transformations. Forty subjects consisted of 16 spiritual mediums and 24 ritual participants. The sample groups were worshippers at the shrines during ceremonies and were categorized into two groups; the elderly and the new generation. The elders were chosen because they had experience and could tell the history of the rituals. They were able to witness the changes from the past to the present ways. As for the new generation, they could see different perspective of people in different ages, and recognize the similarities and differences of opinions on beliefs and rituals. The research instruments were formal and informal interview forms, including participant and non-participant observations, interviews, and survey.

The results of the study revealed that the people in Lao Wiang at Moo 8 and Moo 10 believed in Buddhism along with the belief in worshiping spirits, which appeared in the form of an annual shrine tradition. Participating in the ceremony to pay homage was found in both the old and the new generation reflecting the relationship and unity in the community. It is the wisdom of the ancestors who use their beliefs to connect people in the community together through spiritual mediums. The shrine thus becomes a spiritual refuge, a religious center, and the center of community activities through the tradition of paying homage to the shrine held every year until it becomes the identity of the community. For this reason, the tradition of worshiping the shrine in the community still exists even though the social conditions have changed according to the advancement of modern technology.