After lunch on September 3, Irving sat under the coconuts trees...

with lather on his hair; Roby, his father, took the first snip

followed by Luan, his mother, and then

by his Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

Friends from Singapore took away some hair (Annie here)

and friends from Kelantan had a turn too.

The village chief used the razor to give the final results.

Irving is now crowned by the Wat's Abbot,

and waits with some of his coming entourage,

while others prepare coconut leaf money packets.

Soon Prince Irving is taken to a reverend site ready for the parade

which will be lead by his parents.

"It's not as heavy as he was for nine months; I will make the 3 km walk"

With song, dance and beer the parade enters the Wat.

The Prince passes the famous Standing Buddha image

as this historic shrine is circled three times.

Each orbit passes the family Bua where rest the ashes of those listed.

An old ritual to mark the ascent of the Prince in the material world

and the Prince pays solemn attention.

Thus ends September 3, 2002 with a new Prince giving a grand dinner for the villagers from miles around.

The next day the Prince will renounce his crown, royal robes and materialism for the life of a Buddhist Monk

.

September 4 begins with the Prince led to the Bot where

he throws his money away.

Inside the Bot he pays homage to the Abbot.

Father and Mother present him with his robes

and give him their blessing.

The Prince gives up his royal wraps and crown

to receive his robes from the Abbot.

The Abbott before the other monks explains the monk's manifest

and Phra Irving reenters the temple as a monk.

Phra Mai (The New Monk).

After the ceremony Phra Mai leaves the temple for he must now

eat lunch.

The next day begins with ancient Tat Bat ritual.