Making Merit in Thailand – Feeding Striped Catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) @ Wat Chan Taram or Wat Tha Soong (Uthai Thani Province)
Making Merit – Feeding catfishes @ Wat Tha Soong (Uthai Thani, Thailand)
Making merit is important to Buddhists and there are various form of merit making in Thailand. I usually donate a coffin at Ruamkatanyu Foundation (Bangkok) or some money to the local charity organsation . Another way of making merit is by granting an animal its freedom. This is typically done by releasing a bird from a cage, or releasing a fish,??freshwater eel, cockles??or turtle back into the water.
Daily fresh bread delivery?? @ Wat Tha Soong ( Uthai Thani, Thailand)
I visited Wat Tha Soong in Uthai Thani Province recently and opposite the temple was Sakae Krang river where people performed merit making by feeding the striped catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus or Pangasius sutchi) known locally as Pla Sawai at the edge of the river. Monks from the temple come to the river to feed the fishes occasionally as a result, the temple compound has become a safety shelter for the fishes.
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Loaves of bread at 10 THB each for the fishes @ Wat Tha Soong (Uthai Thani provive, Thailand)
They are native to Southeast Asia in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya river, and are heavily cultivated for food there. As far as I understand, it is not a favourite fish among Thai people as compare to Pla Too . The fish is a little too fatty and earthy and skill is required to cook the fish. There is a common belief in Thailand that people avoid eating the fish after making merit.
Striped Catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) @ Wat Chan Taram or Wat Tha Soong (Uthai Thani Province)
The nineth day of Chinese New Year (3rd Feb 2009) is an auspicious day for making merit and I??am told to release 43 birds for the New Year!!!
??Where To Buy Fishes:
Local wet market
Making Merit in Thailand – Feeding Striped Catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) @ Wat Chan Taram or Wat Tha Soong (Uthai Thani Province)
