Phuket school celebrates a century of “cultivating knowledge’
PHUKET CITY: Plukpanya Municipal School celebrated its 100th birthday on Saturday with a special Buddhist ceremony attended by pupils, teachers, alumni and other well-wishers.
On April 29, 1909, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) opened the school, naming it Plukpanya, which means ‘cultivating knowledge’.
The birthday celebration may have taken place a few months late, but it was nevertheless well attended, with more than 500 people taking part.
The ceremony, at the school on Satun Road in Phuket City, was supported by the Phuket Office of the Basic Education Commission, Phuket City Municipality, as well as Plukpanya teachers, students and alumni.
The celebrations kicked off at 6am with a ceremony paying respect to King Vajiravudh, followed by a merit-making ceremony at 9am, in which food was placed in the bowls of 108 monks.
Later in the day, two well-known monks from Bangkok, Phra Palad Witthaya and Phra Ajarn Rumduan, recounted stories of 13 of the Buddha’s incarnations.
Those in attendance attached money to 13 banana trees gilded in silver and gold – a ritual many Thai Buddhists believe will make them rich in the next life.
Afterwards there was a scramble for the fruit, flowers and blessed water used in the ceremony, which people took home for good luck.
— Khunakorn Terdkiatkhachorn
