Alms giving to monks in Luang Prabang Laos

Monks go out every morning to gather their daily food from the town

Monday, February 26                                                                           Laos

We began this morning before sunrise to witness the almsgiving for Buddhist monks.  Every morning they depart from their temples and walk around the city to gather food for their daily meal.  The tradition dates back to the 14^th century, and locals wake early to prepare food for the monks and wait quietly by the roadside to give their gifts.  Whatever the monks receive is what they eat for the day.

Nat Geo had prepared a place for us, with stools, scarves, rice, and packaged food, to pass out.  Mike gave alms, I took photos.  At the end of the row, the monks gave back what they didn’t want to a little boy with a large bowl.  Almsgiving lasted about an hour, we then went to the morning market.

You must wear a scarf - men on right shoulder, women on left, no shoes and women should not look at the monks faces

Community woman who had prepared rice for almsgiving - what a beautiful scarf she is wearing!