A Buddhist group based in Udon Thani is calling for all the virgin ladies out there to wear white and join them in a religious parade.
A post on Thammabucha Visakha Muang Udon’s Facebook page was picked up by the local media this week after the group tried to recruit virgins to take part in a parade to honor the ashes of Buddha from 5 different countries at the local Wat Sri Muang Thong.
The post said the qualified women must own a white long-sleeved blouse, a long skirt and of course, be untouched.
The comment section underneath the post is proving popular as families sign up daughters and sisters to participate in the ceremony.
“I’d like to sign up my 11-year-old daughter. She’s in 5th grade,” Nittayaporn Klangprom wrote.
“I’d like to sign up my sister. She’s 21 years old,” Bond Thanpakorn wrote.
While virgin women are not directly associated with Buddhism, they play a big role in ancient Thai superstitions. One popular belief is the rain-prevention ceremony, which involves a virgin woman sticking lemongrass into the soil so an outdoor celebration can go-ahead.
Also, in a parade to move a sacred object from one place to another (in this case, the Buddha’s relics), virgin women wear white and join the parade.
But how do you know they’re virgins? One user asked.
“There will be no inspection. Just the gesture that they have joined us is a sign that they are truthful. They know better than anyone else,” the page’s admin responded.
“Their faces will be photographed. Can they handle it if they are not being truthful? In a ceremony that involves a sacred object, taking part in it is a blessing. Those who lie will have to deal with their own sin.”
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