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A hill tribe boy reacts as his hair is shaved by a Thai Buddhist monk during the head shaving rite of the 60th annual mass Buddhist monk ordination ceremony for hill tribe men and youngsters at Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram, also known as the Marble Temple, in Bangkok, Thailand, 27 June 2025. A total of 196 hill tribe males – 97 men and 99 boys – from northern Thailand were ordained as Buddhist monks and novices in the 60th annual mass ordination ceremony at Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok. The event is part of a national project, launched in 1965, aimed at spreading the Buddha’s Dharma to promote knowledge, wisdom, social and mental understanding, and improve welfare for hill tribe communities. The ceremony marks the start of Buddhist Lent, which begins this year on 11 July, and also honors the Thai King’s 73rd birthday on 28 July. During Lent, monks remain in one place to meditate and pray, while laypeople may give up meat or alcohol and observe other ascetic practices. In Thailand, it is traditional for Buddhist men to become monks at some point in their lives. (Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/EPA)
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