The theme for this week'sphotohunt is lock.
I had hard time with this one, and had to think and search a lot to be able to come up with something close enough to the theme.Finally, I settled on this photo we took at one of the temples in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
An important tradition in the Thai culture, and it comes from Buddhism, is making merits, which is basically doing good. Buddhists believe that by making merits, they will have happiness, success and a good life in return. Making merit is accomplished in many ways; bringing food to the monks, donating money to temples and praying, are examples of ways Thai people make merit. All of the above actions seem to be logical and not strange to other religions as well. A more unusual way to make merit in Thailand, is buying a cage that has bird or birds in it, and releasing the bird in front of the temple. Their merit is setting the locked bird free.
Comments (30)
Great choice for the theme this week. This is a very interesting post. I am enjoying learning more about the Thai culture and Buddhist religion. Great photos!
Posted by girasoli | June 12, 2009 4:23 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 04:23
Hi Candi, this is a very creative take on this week's theme. And I think this merit is pretty cool too.
Have a great Friday!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | June 12, 2009 6:31 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 06:31
This is such an awesome take on the theme! What a wonderful tradition and such a great symbolic ritual.
I bet it feels great to release those locked birds and watch them fly away!
Is that Bill getting ready to release some birds?
Love this post! Happy Friday and have a great weekend!
Posted by Annie | June 12, 2009 6:40 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 06:40
Candi, do they sell the locked birds near the temples?
Then tourists can buy them and set them free to earn merit...
Interesting tradition.
Posted by Eden | June 12, 2009 8:24 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 08:24
I like the idea of setting birds free. Great choice for this week's theme!
Posted by jams O'Donnell | June 12, 2009 2:03 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 14:03
What a wonderful and interesting tradition! love your shots for the theme!
Posted by Mar | June 12, 2009 2:04 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 14:04
Thanks all for the comments.
Annie, yes, this is Bill trying to release the birds.
Eden, yes, at some temples, they were selling cages if birds for tourists and other visitors.
Posted by candi | June 12, 2009 3:31 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 15:31
I did not know that about setting birds free from locked cages. That is very cool :) Happy photo hunting, and thank you for the visit!
Posted by Sue | June 12, 2009 3:48 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 15:48
Hi! That's an interesting post for this week. :) Have a great weekend. :)
http://lesliesmyers.blogspot.com/2009/06/photohunt-lock-up-cat-food.html
Posted by leslie | June 12, 2009 4:35 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 16:35
This was such an original take on the theme. I love it. Happy weekend.
Posted by Carver | June 12, 2009 5:34 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 17:34
I love your take on this theme, Candi! What an interesting tradition!
Posted by RJ Flamingo | June 12, 2009 6:37 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 18:37
This ritual is similar to the Chinese. We release locked or caged animals/birds into the wild to make merits.
Posted by eastcoastlife | June 12, 2009 9:55 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 21:55
Excellent choice and very different. I love it.
Happy weekend to you Candi.
Posted by jmb | June 12, 2009 10:50 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 22:50
What an interesting tradition! l love your shots for the theme!
Posted by Randi | June 12, 2009 11:24 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 23:24
That's very unusual! A great choice.
Posted by liz | June 13, 2009 1:08 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 01:08
Aloha!
Wow very interesting tradition. Great take for this week's PH theme.
Stop by & visit my "lock"!
Cindy O
Posted by Cindy O | June 13, 2009 1:10 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 01:10
Hope those unncaged birds remain free! :)
Posted by YTSL | June 13, 2009 2:43 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 02:43
Oh wow it's a cool meaningful tradition. I like your interpretation of this week's theme.:)
Posted by Meikah Delid | June 13, 2009 3:01 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 03:01
Interesting tradition :)
Great take for today's theme,too.
Mariposa's PhotoHunt
Posted by mariposa | June 13, 2009 4:00 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 04:00
What a great choice for this week's theme! I like the idea of setting the birds free - lots of cultures have a similar theme of setting birds free . . . funny how alike we are in spite of the differences . . .
Posted by Jerry | June 13, 2009 4:51 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 04:51
What an unusual take on the theme. I'd never heard of this tradition. Reason number 3 gazillion why I want to visit Thiland (the food is reason #1)
Posted by Deborah | June 13, 2009 5:14 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 05:14
Birds should be free! :)
Have a great weekend!
Anna
Posted by Anna | June 13, 2009 6:15 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 06:15
Such tiny cages! Do they come back and feed the birds later?
Posted by Alice Audrey | June 13, 2009 8:32 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 08:32
Great post for this week's theme. That is interesting that they sell the caged birds.
Posted by marta | June 13, 2009 11:18 AM
Posted on June 13, 2009 11:18
Thanks all.
Alice, yes, they seem to be always feeding the birds. I don't think they are held for long times.
Posted by candi | June 13, 2009 12:47 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 12:47
A great choice for the theme, Candi!
I asked my brother about this tradition and he told me that when he was there last year he and his wife made merit but not by releasing a caged bird but by releasing a turtle.
Have a fun and relaxing weekend!
Posted by María I. | June 13, 2009 1:32 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 13:32
I think I did see some turtles at some temples, but I think birds were more common.
How fun!
Posted by candi | June 13, 2009 1:35 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 13:35
It is a lovely take on the theme... I am sure the birds find it a great practice as well. Mine is up here.
Posted by srp | June 13, 2009 2:06 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 14:06
Way to go Bill!
I read somewhere that the reason there are so many pigeons in Venice is because they used to bring them in to release during religious ceremonies, and they started breeding etc.
Kinda cool how there is ovelap between different religions. I love this one you posted.
Posted by Annie | June 13, 2009 9:31 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 21:31
Nice write up!
Posted by jam | June 14, 2009 3:55 AM
Posted on June 14, 2009 03:55