NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND – Tens of thousands of Buddhists gathered in Korat on 8 March to offer alms to 10,000 monks as the city marked its 558th anniversary.
Start at Ya Mo Plaza before sunrise
The ceremony took place along streets surrounding the Thao Suranaree Monument, widely known locally as Ya Mo Plaza. From the early hours, worshippers arrived carrying food and everyday goods to give as alms and to accumulate merit in the Buddhist sense.
Monks walked in orderly lines as residents knelt by the roadside, placing offerings into their bowls in silence. The atmosphere remained calm and reverent despite the large crowds filling the central part of the provincial capital.
A prominent abbot leads the ritual
The religious part of the event was led by Phra Phrommasit, a member of the Supreme Sangha Council and abbot of Bangkok’s Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan. On the civil side, Wichit Kijwirat, deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, presided on behalf of the provincial governor.
Senior monks guided the chanting and ritual steps, while provincial officials coordinated logistics along the route. Lay volunteers supported crowd control and helped manage the steady flow of offerings.
Kings, Ya Mo and a quiet state ritual
Among the participants were high-ranking representatives from government agencies, the military and the police, together with tens of thousands of Buddhist faithful. During the proceedings, respect was paid to the city’s founding kings, to King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, and to the revered local heroine Thao Suranaree, known as Ya Mo.
Offerings and prayers were framed as a tribute to past monarchs and to Ya Mo’s legacy of courage and loyalty. Officials joined citizens in bowing before the monument as monks chanted blessings.
Monks from six Isaan provinces in one line
Monks from six northeastern Isaan provinces later recited Buddhist prayers for happiness and well-being. After the chanting, they took positions around the monument to receive alms from the public.
The long lines of monks in saffron robes stretched around Ya Mo Plaza as people approached in turn to place food and goods into their bowls. Organizers emphasized the shared merit being generated for both donors and recipients.
From citizens’ initiative to official city tradition
The large-scale event was first organized in 2008 through cooperation between Buddhist organizations and civil society groups in Korat. Over time, it grew into a major date on the provincial calendar.
Since 2024, the almsgiving ceremony has been recognized as an official annual tradition of the city, scheduled each March. Authorities described the new status as a way to cement religious and civic cooperation.
Why Korat celebrates in March
The chosen date commemorates the historic victory of Thao Suranaree, who is honored in Korat as a symbol of courage and loyalty. Her story has become central to the city’s identity and public memory.
The ceremony also formed part of the Bor-Wor-Ror initiative (Home-Temple-School/State), jointly supported by the local Sangha and the provincial administration. The framework aimed to link families, religious institutions and state bodies in community-building efforts.
Over 60 agencies involved – and donations go further
According to organizers, more than 60 agencies supported this year’s event, including the provincial Buddhism office, the provincial administration, the city administration, the Second Army Region and the provincial police. Their roles covered planning, security, traffic management and coordination with monasteries.
The donated food and goods were earmarked for distribution to 323 temples, as well as to teachers and soldiers in high-risk areas of the four southern border provinces. Additional assistance was planned for disaster victims within Nakhon Ratchasima province, extending the impact of the offerings beyond the city’s anniversary celebrations.