Residents of Ban Dongphayom are Theravada Buddhists.
Ancestor worship is practiced, and homes often have shrines dedicated to elders of the family who have died.
Offerings of food and drink are placed beside the shrines.
Children of Ban Dongphayom attend school in neighboring Ban Sam Ruen.
They travel to school by bicycle and on foot.
There is no bus service.
Large celebrations are commonplace in Ban Dongphayom, as local weddings and other events such as coming-of-age ceremonies and death anniversaries are well attended by the entire community.
Celebrations involve days of preparation and entertainment is customary.
Singers and dancers are typically hired for these events.
Traditional ethnic clothing is no longer worn by villagers of Ban Dongphayom, other than for certain religious ceremonies.
Men of the village, however, often obtain astrological tattoos on their bodies, which they believe protect them from danger.
Monks use different tools to make the tattoos.
Some of the monks use sharpened sticks of bamboo; others use thin weighted metal rods.
Residents of Ban Dongphayom are Theravada Buddhists. Ancestor worship is practiced, and homes often have shrines dedicated to elders of the family who have died. Offerings of food and drink are placed beside the shrines. Children of Ban Dongphayom attend school in neighboring Ban Sam Ruen. They travel to school by bicycle and on foot. There is no bus service. Large celebrations are commonplace in Ban Dongphayom, as local weddings and other events such as coming-of-age ceremonies and death anniversaries are well attended by the entire community. Celebrations involve days of preparation and entertainment is customary. Singers and dancers are typically hired for these events. Traditional ethnic clothing is no longer worn by villagers of Ban Dongphayom, other than for certain religious ceremonies. Men of the village, however, often obtain astrological tattoos on their bodies, which they believe protect them from danger. Monks use different tools to make the tattoos. Some of the monks use sharpened sticks of bamboo; others use thin weighted metal rods.
Ban Dongphayom