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Photos: Thailand’s female Buddhist monks defy tradition with ordainment

Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that, since 1928, has forbidden the ordination of women. A growing number of women are defying generations of Thai Buddhist tradition by becoming ordained as novice monks at an unrecognised but all-female monastery. The government maintains that this is not gender discrimination but a matter of long-held tradition, and women are free to travel abroad to be ordained, just not in their own country.

Updated on: Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM IST

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1/12

A devotee has her hair cut by a female Buddhist monk during a mass female novice monk ordination at the Songdhammakalyani monastery in Thailand. Boodsabann Chanthawong recently joined a growing number of women defying generations of Thai Buddhist tradition by becoming ordained as novice monks at this unrecognised all-female monastery outside Bangkok. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

A devotee has her hair cut by a female Buddhist monk during a mass female novice monk ordination at the Songdhammakalyani monastery in Thailand. Boodsabann Chanthawong recently joined a growing number of women defying generations of Thai Buddhist tradition by becoming ordained as novice monks at this unrecognised all-female monastery outside Bangkok. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

2/12

Boodsabann Chanthawong, 49, a businesswoman, works on her mobile phone as she rides on a train, weeks ahead of her ordination. “I’m going to overcome this obstacle and become ordained like I’ve always wanted,” the 49-year-old businesswoman said before the ceremony on Dec. 5, where she would have her head shaved. She stayed for nine days at the temple. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

Boodsabann Chanthawong, 49, a businesswoman, works on her mobile phone as she rides on a train, weeks ahead of her ordination. “I’m going to overcome this obstacle and become ordained like I’ve always wanted,” the 49-year-old businesswoman said before the ceremony on Dec. 5, where she would have her head shaved. She stayed for nine days at the temple. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

3/12

Leading a procession of 21 other women - from teenagers to senior citizens - to a chapel in the Songdhammakalyani monastery in Nakhon Pathom province, Boodsabann teared up as she prepared to exchange her white garments for the distinctive saffron robes otherwise seen almost exclusively on male monks. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

Leading a procession of 21 other women - from teenagers to senior citizens - to a chapel in the Songdhammakalyani monastery in Nakhon Pathom province, Boodsabann teared up as she prepared to exchange her white garments for the distinctive saffron robes otherwise seen almost exclusively on male monks. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

4/12

The devotees attend an icebreaking session ahead of their ordination.Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that since 1928 has forbidden the ordination of women. The country does not recognise female monks or novices. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

The devotees attend an icebreaking session ahead of their ordination.Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that since 1928 has forbidden the ordination of women. The country does not recognise female monks or novices. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

5/12

One option for devout Thai women is to become white-clad Buddhist nuns, who follow a less strict religious regimen than monks and are often relegated to housekeeping tasks in temples. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

One option for devout Thai women is to become white-clad Buddhist nuns, who follow a less strict religious regimen than monks and are often relegated to housekeeping tasks in temples. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

6/12

A painting of a female Buddhist monk is displayed at the Songdhammakalyani monastery. In recent years, more Thai Buddhist women seeking to become full-fledged “bhikkunis”, or female monks, have been defying the tradition by pursuing the other option: getting ordained overseas, usually in Sri Lanka or India. (REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

A painting of a female Buddhist monk is displayed at the Songdhammakalyani monastery. In recent years, more Thai Buddhist women seeking to become full-fledged “bhikkunis”, or female monks, have been defying the tradition by pursuing the other option: getting ordained overseas, usually in Sri Lanka or India. (REUTERS)

7/12

Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the 74-year-old abbess of the Songdhammakalyani monastery, flew to Sri Lanka to be ordained in 2001 as Thailand’s first female monk. Since then, she has helped women like Boodsabann join the Buddhist order as novices at the monastery’s ordination ceremonies every April and December. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, the 74-year-old abbess of the Songdhammakalyani monastery, flew to Sri Lanka to be ordained in 2001 as Thailand’s first female monk. Since then, she has helped women like Boodsabann join the Buddhist order as novices at the monastery’s ordination ceremonies every April and December. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

8/12

A Thai woman devotee who ended her novice monkhood has her head cleaned by Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. “It’s been 90 years and the social context has changed, but they still don’t accept us,” Dhammananda told Reuters. “It’s a shame that women aren’t allowed to make decisions for their own lives. You have to rebel against injustice because this is not right,” she added. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

A Thai woman devotee who ended her novice monkhood has her head cleaned by Dhammananda Bhikkhuni. “It’s been 90 years and the social context has changed, but they still don’t accept us,” Dhammananda told Reuters. “It’s a shame that women aren’t allowed to make decisions for their own lives. You have to rebel against injustice because this is not right,” she added. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

9/12

Women devotees have their hair cut by Dhammananda Bhikkhun and a female monk during a mass novice monk ordination. While the monastery ordains female novices, it cannot do the same for those seeking to become monks. Such a ceremony would require not only 10 female monks but also 10 male monks, who are forbidden under Thailand’s 1928 order to participate in it. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

Women devotees have their hair cut by Dhammananda Bhikkhun and a female monk during a mass novice monk ordination. While the monastery ordains female novices, it cannot do the same for those seeking to become monks. Such a ceremony would require not only 10 female monks but also 10 male monks, who are forbidden under Thailand’s 1928 order to participate in it. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

10/12

Novice monks walk in line to receive food offerings from people at the Songdhammakalyani monastery. There are about 270 female monks across Thailand and they were all ordained abroad, Dhammananda said, adding that her monastery houses seven of them. In contrast, Thailand has more than 250,000 male monks. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

Novice monks walk in line to receive food offerings from people at the Songdhammakalyani monastery. There are about 270 female monks across Thailand and they were all ordained abroad, Dhammananda said, adding that her monastery houses seven of them. In contrast, Thailand has more than 250,000 male monks. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

11/12

A novice monk is reflected in a bowl as she receives food offerings. Efforts in the past to undo the 1928 order have been futile. It has been officially upheld during meetings of the Sangha Supreme Council, the council of top monks, in 2002 and most recently in 2014. The government says this is not gender discrimination but a matter of long-held tradition, and women are free to travel abroad to be ordained. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

A novice monk is reflected in a bowl as she receives food offerings. Efforts in the past to undo the 1928 order have been futile. It has been officially upheld during meetings of the Sangha Supreme Council, the council of top monks, in 2002 and most recently in 2014. The government says this is not gender discrimination but a matter of long-held tradition, and women are free to travel abroad to be ordained. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

12/12

Novice monks gather during a group photo session at the Songdhammakalyani monastery. “Women can’t be ordained here, but no one stops them from doing that overseas. They just can’t be ordained by Thai monks, that’s all,” said Narong Songarom, spokesman of the National Office of Buddhism. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 06, 2019 1:59 PM

Novice monks gather during a group photo session at the Songdhammakalyani monastery. “Women can’t be ordained here, but no one stops them from doing that overseas. They just can’t be ordained by Thai monks, that’s all,” said Narong Songarom, spokesman of the National Office of Buddhism. (Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS)

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