Thailand: A temple temporarily erected in the courtyard of the Grand Palace in Bangkok for the tonsure ceremony of two royal princes, late 19th century. In 19th-century Siam, almost every young male in the royal family entered the ‘sangha’ or Buddhist monkhood as a rite of passage. The tonsure ceremony was an initial act of this rite as all novices must have their heads shaved to enter the monastic order. The tradition survives to this day, not just among Thai royalty, but at all levels of society.

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Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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