Wat Nong Ya Ngam

16.09.2018

Wat Nong Ya Ngam
Sometimes I think that we are so consumed with "ticking boxes" when we travel, that we miss the things that are right in front of us! Like this Wat, I know I have photographed many Wats, probably over 100 now, but It never ceases to amaze me when I discover another gem hidden away in plain sight. There isn't a lot of information on this particular Wat, what I can say is it a fully working one with a small monastery attached. In Thailand being a Buddhist country, temples play an important role in everyday life for Thai people. People go to the temple for merit making, prey to the Buddha for things such as good health, good fortune and wealth and to seek advice from monks. It is customary for young boys to ordain as a monk and live in the temple for a while, some for a short time, some for longer. It is believed that Buddhism was introduced to Thailand about 2,200 years ago when the emperor of India, Ashoka the Great, send monks to a great number of countries including Thailand to spread Buddhism. Nowadays, the vast majority of Thai people is Buddhist. Although Thai temples area called “Wat”, meaning temple, this term refers to the temple complex consisting of various buildings like the Ubosot (ordination hall), the Viharn where important Buddha images are kept and a Chedi, where Buddhist relics are enshrined.