"Tak Bat Thewo" means "Tak Bat" or "offering food to the Buddhist monk" in a day after Ok Phansa day, the 1st day of the 11th waning moon. The word "Thewo" derives from "Theworohana", which means coming down from the heaven. This is the celebration in order of Lord Buddha’s return to Earth after delivering a semon to his dead mother in heaven.
Contents
The starting point of Tak Bat Thewo
In the seventh year after Lord Buddha’s intuition, he decided to give a semon to his dead mother, Sirimahamaya, in Dusit heaven, so he stayed in the heaven for three months from Khao Phansa day to Ok Phansa day. On Ok Phansa day, the 15th day of the 11th waxing moon, Lord Buddha had come back to Earth and made the miracle that all realms (heaven, human, and hell) can see each other while he was going down. The next morning, most citizens made a big "Tak Bat" event as they had not seen Lord Buddha for almost three months. That event was originally called "Tak Bat Theworohana", but as the time passed, it had derived to only "Tak Bat Thewo". To memorize that event, people made it a festival till now.
The meaning of Theworohana
Theworohana means coming down from the heaven of Lord Buddha. It is the part of Buddha’s life. The legend said that, when he come back, Indra had made three ladders for him (gold, silver, and crystal). Their heads were put on the top of a mountain and their bases were at the door of Sanggas Nakorn city. When Lord Buddha come down, he used the crystal ladder while the angels used gold ladder and the archangels used silver ladder. That is called Theworohana.
Special of Tak Bat Thewo
Tak Bat Thewo is the special day that they will install the statue of Buddha on a small moving boat and with a monk's alms bowl in the front. There will be some person pulling it slowly while the monks walk in line in the back and the buddish sit on the side and throw the rice balls into that bowl, which is at the front of the statue. Some people will take some semon in the temple too.
Tak Bat Thewo in Thailand
In Thailand there are countries which do Tak Bat Thewo festival, such as: 1.In Uthai Thani at Wat Sangkat Rattanakhiri, there are about 500 monks walking 449 steps of the staircase down from Sakaekrang hill to receive alms from locals and tourists. 2.In Chon Buri, monks walk in a long line around the Muang district to join Tak Bat Thewo festival. 3.In Buri Ram, about two thousand people joined in merit-making ritual with 199 monks in this festival.