There have long been close ties between Thai and Sri Lankan Buddhism. In the 13th century the Sinhala sect was introduced to Thailand and superseded other sects owing to its authenticity; and in the 18th century when the Sri Lankan Sangha was on the verge of collapse, Thailand sent monks headed by Ven Upāli to re-establish the monastic lineage.
This film is a record of a cārika (walking pilgrimage) of around 40 Thai monks made to Sri Lanka in 2018, and the reception that greeted them there. On their one-month long journey the monks mainly walk from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa, Siripada, Colombo, Kelaniya and Kandy and meet with devotees and Sangha members along the way.
The film is made by Thai TV and features Thai pronunication of Sri Lankan towns’ and people’s names, which sound a little odd, as it all has to be retranslated to be understood. Despite some mistakes in the commentary one can’t help but be impressed both by the monks’ commitment and the Sri Lankans’ devotion.
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to see an album of screenshots click here