# data[].attributes.body
1. What is Tak Bat and and what do the people do during this time?
2. What is the reason Tak Bak is at risk and why are tourists involved in this?
3. As the tourists are risking the culture trait of Tak Bat, what the popular culture that is causing discomfort to the monks?

# data[].attributes.body
The Tak Bat is a profound expression of generosity, a cardinal virtue for the Lao people, and is a significant source of religious merit for the Buddhist community. It is probably the closest religious interaction between lay people and monks. Whenever it is performed, it is done with a profound sense of beauty and affection, with piety, care, thoughtfulness, and with deep commitment. Some of the worst behavior in Luang Prabang is by group tours and the drivers of their minivans, which are inexplicably allowed into the area during the Tak Bat. Seemingly, the groups are given little instruction on what not to do and there are no consequences for inappropriate behavior.

# data[].attributes.headline
How Popular Culture is an Obstacle to Retaining the Trait

# data[].attributes.subject
How Popular Culture is an Obstacle to Retaining the Trait

# data[].attributes.body
The camera flashes are blinding the monks in the dim dawn light. The Tak Bat, also called Sai Bat, is a living Buddhist tradition. It is a key way for monks to maintain their vows and for Buddhist laypeople to practice their faith and gain merit for the afterlife.
It has also become a tourist attraction. Lack of knowledge and the anonymity of being in a crowd of strangers are the problem. Also at play is the extremely polite and modest Lao culture that considers it unacceptably rude to ask someone directly to change their behavior. And the competing interests of tourism economics always contribute.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Heritage At Risk: Tak Bat Ceremony in Luang Prabang, Laos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Every morning in Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of Laos, hundreds of monks walk in meditative silence for the Tak Bat ceremony. Learn about how you can respectfully observe this tradition during your Laos trip.

# data[].attributes.body
Some Lao officials are considering stopping the tradition because of the deep offense caused by the tourists' behavior. This is being religious and cultural tradition it would be very hard to do.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tak Bat, the morning alms-giving practice, is a living Buddhist tradition and a key way for monks to maintain their vows and for Buddhist lay people to practice their faith and gain merit for the afterlife.

It is at risk of being discontinued in Luang Prabang, Laos - a UNESCO world heritage site made famous for this very ceremony.

As described HERE, tourists are disrupting the practice with flash photography, noise, and other actions more becoming of a circus than a religious ceremony.

How can you, at a minimum, not make the situation worse, and, even better, help other travellers to treat this practice with respect?

Below is a simple explanation of how to respectfully witness the alms-giving tradition, and, if (and only if) you are Buddhist and it is meaningful to you, how to participate in it.
The basics
Think about what would be acceptable in your local church or temple. Jostling the minister, priest or rabbi and worshippers; photographing them at close range, particularly with a flash; and making noise - if this happened, you would be shocked. The same holds true for the Tak Bat, even though this religious practice takes place in the street.

What should you do?

1. Observe in silence. Not just a low voice. Silence.

2. Photographing the event is fine, but do it from a distance and triple check to make sure your flash is turned off.

3. Dress respectfully: cover your shoulders and knees, and everything in between. Remove your hat (and your headphones).

4. Keep your head lower than the monks' - it is disrespectful to watch from a minivan or bus, and even from the balcony of your hotel.

5. Do not break the line of monks; it is considered extremely disrespectful. If you need to cross the street, wait until there is a large gap between groups of monks.

6. Do not interfere in any way.

7. If you see others not following these guidelines, talk to them (yes, quietly!).

The grand majority of us should not participate in the Tak Bat (this would be like a non-Catholic taking Communion). However, if you are a practicing Buddhist and it would be meaningful to you, you may participate. There are ways to do this respectfully as well.

How to participate:

1. Ask your hotel to prepare the rice for you to give, or buy it from the market where locals do: do not buy from the street vendors along the monks' route (Some vendors are selling their own leftovers, and monks have gotten sick. Yes, the sellers need the money, but there are more sustainable ways to help these families and the community).

2. Your hotel should also be able to provide you with a mat to sit on and a sash to wear.

3. Dress respectfully, with shoulders and legs covered, and wearing the sash provided by your hotel.

4. Give alms silently (they will also be received in silence).

5. Do not touch the monks or their robes; women should take extra care.

6. Recently some entrepreneurial older Lao women are "helping" tourists participate in the alms-giving, by showing you what to do and directing you to a mat to kneel upon (when the monks have passed by they then ask for $20 US for their help). Shake your head no and move away, and if they are very persistent quietly say "bo, kup chai " meaning "no, thank you".

Remember that monks collect alms as a form of mediation; anything you do to interfere with this meditation is disruptive. Camera flashes, getting close to or touching the monks, making noises should be obvious no-nos, but you should even avoid looking a monk in the eye.

Simply stand back and observe this beautiful tradition in silence. If we all can do this, the tradition will continue for future generations.

I would like to complement these Luang Prabang hotels for giving their guests information to help bring more respect to the tak bat, and helping Buddhist guests participate in the ritual:
3 Nagas
Hôtel de la Paix
Apsara Rive Droite
Mekong Riverview

For more info on how to be a respectful tourist in a Buddhist country, please click HERE.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The respectful tourist's guide to Tak Bat, the Buddhist alms-giving ceremony

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tak Bat, the morning alms-giving practice, is a living Buddhist tradition and a key way for monks to maintain their vows and for Buddhist lay people to practice their faith and gain merit for the afterlife. It is at risk of being discontinued in Luang Prabang, Laos -- a UNESCO world heritage site made famous for this very...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What to do during the Morning Alms (Tak Bat) in Laos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As tourists, we often want to see and participate in ceremonies of countries we visit, be they traditional or religious or both. However, we need to ensure that our presence does not disrupt the sanctity of such practices, and what it means to the locals who do them.

# data[].attributes.body
Tak Bat is a daily ceremony is both peaceful and spiritual. Tak Bat is a culture trait to the Monks. During Tak Bat, the people of Laos feed and care for the monks of their local community. The morning procession of monks who walk to collect the offerings.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The tak bat, or the Buddhist Lao monks' morning collection of food in Luang Prabang, has become a must-see for travelers to Luang Prabang in Laos. And yet the tak bat's growing popularity among tourists may also be turning this serene ritual into an endangered one.

The practice of offering food to monks is most visible in Theravada Buddhist countries like Laos and Thailand, where the practice sustains large monastic communities.

In Luang Prabang, this tradition manifests as a morning ritual where monks silently line the streets while locals (and interested tourists) put gifts of food into the bowls carried by the monks.

It's one of the most vivid images of Laos - from 5:30 in the morning onward, silent lines of saffron-clad Lao monks walk down the streets of Luang Prabang to collect alms. The locals are there ahead of them, ready with bowls full of the Lao staple sticky rice; every monk gets a scoopful in their bowl.

With almost eighty temples in Luang Prabang alone, this adds up to hundreds of monks, who take different routes depending on where in town their temple stands. The routes that walk through Th Sakkarin and Th Kamal are among the most viewed by tourists, although the ritual occurs all around Luang Prabang.

Each monk carries a large lidded bowl, which is attached to a strap hanging from the monk's shoulder. As monks file past the line of almsgivers - who are usually sitting or kneeling on the street - these containers are reverently filled with handfuls of sticky rice or bananas.

The best rice for the tak bat ritual is prepared by the almsgivers themselves. The locals wake up early to prepare a batch of sticky rice, which they then scoop generously into each monk's bowl as the line files past.

The ritual is done in silence; the almsgivers do not speak, nor do the monks. The monks walk in meditation, and the almsgivers reciprocate with respect by not disturbing the monk's meditative peace.

For hundreds of years, the ritual has cemented the symbiotic relationship between the monks and the almsgivers who maintain them - by feeding the monks and helping the laypeople make merit, tak bat supports both the monks (who need the food) and the almsgivers (who need spiritual redemption).

The upsurge of tourism in Luang Prabang has endangered the tak bat ceremony, as many tourists approach the ritual not as a religious ceremony to be respected, but as a cultural show to enjoy. Foreign tourists often jostle the Lao monks, breaking their meditation; they take flash pictures of the line; and they disrupt the ritual with their inappropriate noise, actions and dress.

As a result, fewer locals are inclined to take part, because they refuse to be part of a dog-and-pony show for tourists. Some Lao officials are considering stopping the tradition because of the deep offense caused by tourists' beastly behavior.

It's not that tourists aren't welcome to see or participate - they are free to do so, but only with the correct actions and intentions are in place.

Don't treat the ritual as a photo-op: Be there to give honestly and humbly. If you can't do that, keep a respectful distance and don't disrupt the participants - and if you can't do even that, don't be there.

Keep a respectful distance: Stay out of the way of either the monks or almsgivers.

Dress properly: Keep your shoulders, torso and legs covered. This is doubly important if you plan to participate in the almsgiving. Take off your shoes if you're giving alms.

Don't use your camera flash: It breaks the monks' concentration and detracts from the solemnity of the ritual.

Pay attention: Don't position yourself so your head is higher than the monks' heads.

The following tips apply specifically if you're participating in the tak bat ceremony:

Don't buy food from street vendors nearby; if you have to participate, make rice yourself (or have your hotel prepare you some rice).

Do not make eye contact with the monks.

Do not touch the monks. Withdraw your hands immediately after placing your offering in the bowl.

Do bow before the monks to show your respect.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What You Need to Know About the Tak Bat Ritual in Luang Prabang, Laos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The tak bat, or the Buddhist Lao monks' morning collection of food in Luang Prabang, has become a must-see for travelers to Luang Prabang in Laos. And yet the tak bat's growing popularity among tourists may also be turning this serene ritual into an endangered one.