monk with tattoo's on his back at the Wai Khru ceremony , Wat Bang Phra , Tambol Ban Gaew Fa , nakornpathom, thailand

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Each year devotees pay their respects to tattoo masters in a special ceremony known as Wai Khru (honour the teacher) or master day. Believers come to show respect to both living and dead tattoo masters. Held once a year in March at Wat Bang Phra (a Buddhist temple 50 Km west of Bangkok where the late abbot, Luan Phor Pern was famous for his tattooing skills) the ceremony is quite a spectacle and the place to witness “Khong Khuen” (animal Spirit possession), when tattooed men and women are “possessed” by the spirit of their animal tattoos . Devotees gather every year to receive sak yant-- tattoos believed to imbue the wearers with magical powers at the Wai Khru ceremony…. In Thailand, a country with a culture deeply rooted in spirituality and superstition, tattoos are a lot more than just skin deep. Traditional Thai tattoos, known as Yantra tattoos are believed to have strong magical powers. People get them for protection and good luck.

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Size: 5256px × 3491px
Location: Wai Khru ceremony , Wat Bang Phra , Tambol Ban Gaew Fa , nakornpathom, thailand
Photo credit: © pavlos christoforou / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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