We found it most satisfying to stow the camera completely after ten minutes and simply observe the procession from across the street, despite the many onlookers who opted differently. Generally, the more discreet, unobtrusive, and respectful you can be, the better. Some of the guidelines we did our best to adhere to were dressing modestly, standing a good distance (several meters) from the procession, and taking photos from a distance with a long lens (zoom lens) and without a flash. Instead, sadly, it seems that so many approach Tak Bat as a cultural show put on for them, which it is not. If most observers approached it as the religious devotional exercise that it is, perhaps more tourists would act differently.
When we observe Tak Bat, we try our best to adhere to the rules and tips posted around town regarding being respectful of what is taking place here every morning. Often, these individuals fail to properly educate themselves on the rules and customs of Tak Bat, which can manifest in anything from a simple faux pax to major transgression.įurthermore, enterprising locals have begun to capitalize on the growing number of tourist participants, selling them leftover or low-grade rice, and monks have even become very sick from such rice.Īnother problem in recent years has been the brazen and disrespectful attitude of many tourists in taking photos of the procession and monks themselves.Įarly in the morning, it can still be possible to view the ritual without the hordes of tourists, but by sun-up, lines of minivans and tuk tuks will often ferry in dozens of tourists, eager to get an up-close-and-personal snapshot of the monks. In recent years, tourist participant numbers have dramatically increased.Ī small minority are practicing Buddhists here to demonstrate their faith and respect for the monks’ sacrifice.īut an increasing number of foreign visitors view Tak Bat as a mere cultural show to participate in or tick off a bucket list. Tak Bat Almsgiving: Essentials for Travelers If you plan to visit Luang Prabang and experience Tak Bat for yourself, here is what you need to know about this time honored (and endangered) cultural and spiritual daily ritual. Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed how attitudes, behaviors, and norms have changed with regards to Tak Bat - in terms of tourists and observers, but also local residents hoping to cash in on the growing number of visitors. In the past decade, fears have mounted over whether the popularity of this ritual of humility and meditation in this UNESCO heritage city may ultimately lead to the end of Tak Bat in Luang Prabang.įortunately, many locals are fighting back to keep tourists in line and the monks participating in the daily ritual healthy and respected.
But the practice in, Luang Prabang - the country’s spiritual epicenter - is particularly significant, and is largely responsible for putting Luang Prabang on the tourist map. Tak Bat, or monks almsgiving, occurs just before sunrise across the width and breadth of Laos.
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