MSU SECONDARY WAI KRU CEREMONY

Mahasarakham University Demonstration Secondary School held a Wai Kru ceremony in the school’s Centredome building on June 2.

The ceremony is one you will see repeated at all levels of educational institutions throughout Thailand. Wai Kru is regarded as a traditional sacred ceremony where students pay respect to their teachers for their dedication in educating younger people. The students are regarded as seedlings and it is the sacred responsibility of the teacher or Ajarn to nurture the student in a similar way to nurturing a seedling so the students grow strong intellectually. During the ceremony a piece of string is tied around the wrist of the students by one or more of the students’ Ajarn which is a reminder to all of a mutual connection and respect.

The responsibilities of an Ajarn go much further in Thai culture than simply ‘teaching’. It also includes moral learning, teaching values towards others and the community in general. The ceremony is treated with great respect but there are also light hearted moments which help in the development of close bonds between students and their educators. ... more pics