The saffron-robed monks sat on the hard tiled floor and laid out the required impedimenta; a lidded silver bowl, consecrated water, a candle and a roll of pure white twine. A small shrine lit with candles, and decorated with flowers stood near by.
Water and coffee were offered and accepted only the men were allowed to present these to the monks a few moments of meditation followed. An elderly monk took the twine in his hand in doing so he said a prayer over the roll, and placed the strand in the crook of his thumb and first finger; every other monk repeating the action before passing it to the next in line. The twine symbolised the spiritual link between the past and present, between Buddha and the monks.
The water was poured into the bowl and the candle fixed to the rim. Another prayer was recited and responses returned. Placing a shield-like implement in front of his face the first monk recited a blessing, the ‘shield’ was then passed to a second monk and the process repeated.
Then the most moving, spiritual and peaceful part of the ceremony was when the monks began a chant the chant that sounded a mix of the strange tones of Mongolian throat singing and the cadence of Gregorian chant. Its droning quality proved to be both rhythmic and hypnotic, sounds like a bagpipe's drones and the mid-tones of a harmonium filled the room.
A strange kind of peace almost of tranquility descended on the company and venue. The discomfort from sitting for so long on the cool tiles and was replaced by the enticing tones of the monk’s chants. At a signal Annan, the pub’s owner, lit the candle perched on the bowl's rim, the senior monk inclined it immediately over the bowl so that its melting grease dropped into the water. At the end candle was doused in the water and the lid replaced. A moment of silent contemplation before the blessing ended.
The ceremony over the monks were presented with a "devotional offering", gifts of life's essentials, toothpaste and brushes, soap, candles, washing powder and the like. The final part of the devotional offering, a meal; as this pub is a British style pub and serves only British faire the monks were offered what must have been a novel meal, of roast chicken, roast and boiled potatoes, carrots, peas and gravy made with real "Bisto", certainly a change from their usual diet of rice or noodles. However, they tucked into the meal with relish and cleared their plates.
Annan, blesses the pub every year, it must have some effect as the place is usually full of appreciative expats, tourists and Thais eager to sample the excellent ‘blightly’ style home cooking.
