Sai bat or tak bat is a centuries-old Buddhist ritual of offering food to monks in Laos.
While it is predominantly observed in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city, it is also practised across the Southeast Asian country.
Buddhist monks look at their mobile phones at a temple in Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
Each day, shortly before the sun rises, observant devotees of Theravada Buddhism wait by the side of roads with freshly prepared sticky rice, called khao niew, amongst other things, to offer to monks.
Buddhist monks receive alms from laypeople in a village near Luang Prabang, in Laos. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.Two Laotian girls wait to give alms to Buddhist monks – one has money, and the other has biscuits. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
And just as the sun rises, barefoot monks in saffron robes emerge from temples to receive alms. They walk in silence, one following the other, and receive various offerings in a bat, an alms bowl that hangs from a shoulder.
A man gives alms to Buddhist monks in a village in Laos. Whilst men can stand and offer alms, women must sit or kneel when making the offering. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
Theravada Buddhist monks only eat before noon and rely on the generous offerings of lay believers for sustenance. In return, this symbiotic practice of sai bat allows the devotees to accumulate merits and gain good karma in the future.
Laotian Buddhist monks receive alms from villagers on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
However, tourism has somewhat robbed this holy ceremony of its dignity and respect.
A Laotian girl waits with her bowl of biscuits to offer as alms to Buddhist monks. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
Foreign tourists mainly flock to central Luang Prabang. Despite local advice on behaviour and etiquette, some of them walk in front of monks and stick their cameras, selfie sticks, and phones in the faces of the Buddhist clergy.
Some visitors do not even wear appropriately covered clothes.
Although sticky rice is the traditional alms offering to Buddhist monks, they also receive money, sweets, snacks, and various other goodies. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
HKFP had a chance to visit a village on the outskirts of Luang Prabang, away from the throngs of tourists.
Laotian woman in traditional attire. The shawl over their shoulders is called phaa biang, the skirt tied to the waist is the sinh, and the long-sleeved blouse is called suea pat. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
Our contributor – a Hong Kong-based photographer – was the only foreigner in the village.
The locals gave her a chance to observe the daily ritual from inside the temple to the village roads, witnessing the respect that should be accorded to the religious occasion.
Laotian women wait to give alms to Buddhist monks. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.Novice monks gather to eat their first meal of the day inside a local temple in a village in Laos. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.A Laotian woman finishes praying in a temple after offering some sticky rice to the Buddha. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.Laotian women sitting on their stools on the side of a village road with a basket of sticky rice and goodies to offer to the monks. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.An elderly woman is on her way to a village temple to make her offering to the Buddha before giving alms to the monks on the side of a village road. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.A Laotian girl makes an offering of sticky rice to novice monks. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.Novice monks at Wat Sensoukaram, a temple in Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.Monks walk past tourists at Wat Xieng Thong, also known as the Golden Tree Monastery, one of the main temples in Luang Prabang, Laos. There are over 30 temples in the city and its vicinity. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.A novice monk before closing time at Wat Xieng Thong, the main temple in Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo: Ayesha Sitara.
Ayesha Sitara is a documentary photographer based in Hong Kong. She has published work in Gestalten, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Hindu, HarpersCollins, Asia Times, SCMP and Wall to Wall Media UK (Documentaries), to name a few. She received honorable mention at the 19th Pollux Awards and her photos were exhibited at Fotonostrum Gallery in Barcelona. She is a member of Cathay Camera Club in Hong Kong and winner of its annual exhibition in 2022.
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