Category: Cultural Promotion and Preservation

On 19 July 2024, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) organized the ceremony of Asalha Bhucha Day and Buddhist Lent Day, which would fall on 20 and 21 July 2024. Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President, presided over the ceremony and led a candle procession before joining other activities all the morning.

The main activities of the event included:

1. Lent Candle Procession, one of the main activities of the Buddhist Lent Day ceremony, showcasing candle sculpture within STOU Headquarters

2. Alms offering ceremony where dried food was given to nine monks

3. Buddhist Sermon Listening aiming to make wishes for the participants themselves and those they love, as well as to brush up their minds

4. Presenting Lent candle and Cloth for the rains, one of the traditional main activities on Buddhist Lent Day

5. Candlelight Procession around Ho Phra Phut Ming Mongkhon Dhammasathan, a pavillion in STOU Rajamangalapisek Education Park, to pay respect to the Buddha.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University fulfills our mission in preserving and promoting Buddhist traditions and culture through various events, open to participants from the university and
the neighboring community, throughout the year.

22 May 2024, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) organized activities to participate in preserving and carrying on the Buddhist religion. The activities were held at Rajamangalaphisek Education Park. Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of STOU, was the president of the event. The event interested various faculty members and staff from different schools and departments of STOU. Key activities included an alms offering ceremony where dried food was given to 9 monks, a Buddhist ceremony, and a candlelight procession around the Phra Phutthamingmongkhon Dhammasathan pavilion to pay respect to the Buddha. There was also a demonstration and an opening opportunity to practice making lotus-shaped containers from palm leaves.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) hosted the “Unseen Library & Museum @STOU” event on Thursday, 16 May 2024, at the Library Building. The event aimed to promote cultural tourism and sustainable community development through library and museum resources.

The event featured four main activities:

Sukhothai Thammaracha: Participants visited the King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni Documentation Center on the second floor of the Library Building and learned about the life, works, and important events during the reign of King Rama VII. They also had the chance to participate in a quiz game to win prizes.

Valuable Distance Education: Participants explored an exhibition showcasing the concept of open universities, the history and development of STOU, and the university’s identity, including its logo, colors, academic regalia, and unique sculptures. They also had the opportunity to play a quiz game to win souvenirs.

STOU Library: Treasure Trove of Knowledge: Participants learned about the library’s information resources, including course materials, books, journals, and other information related to sustainable cultural tourism. They were also introduced to the library’s various services and participated in a fortune-telling game with “Nong Sa Bai Cards.”

Nonthaburi Sustainable Development: Participants learned about sustainable tourism in Nonthaburi Province through an exhibition and gamified activities, including VR tours of Nonthaburi’s Buddhist art and murals, VR tours of Nonthaburi’s pottery and handicrafts, and a Metaverse virtual museum of Nonthaburi handicrafts. They also had the chance to play a quiz game to win souvenirs.

In addition to the main activities, participants could also join the “Snap & Share” activity by taking photos and sharing their favorite spots in the library and the King Rama VII Room to win prizes.

Organized by the School of Liberal Arts, Office of Documentation and Information, Rajamangalaphisek Education Park Division, Urban Agriculture Learning Center, in cooperation with Bangkok Library Network, the “Unseen Library & Museum @STOU” event was a success in promoting the use of library and museum resources for sustainable cultural tourism and learning about the history, culture, and way of life of communities.

11 April 2024 – Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) held an annual event of Songkran, celebrating the Thai New Year under the theme “Songkran: Water Festival the Thai Way.” The event featured Song Nam Phra – water pouring over Buddha statues as a way to make merit, Rod Nam Dam Hua – water pouring on elders’ hands to seek blessings, Thai traditional performances, and a cultural workshop.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University organizes Songkran Festival annually to preserve the nation’s valuable traditions and culture. This year’s event staged Central Thai cultural performances, including: “Ayutthaya Maha Songkran” dance performance by the Office of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Classical Dance and Drama Program, Phranakhon Rajabhat University, “Thai Children’s Traditional Games” performance by students of Jutiporn Kindergarten, “Ram Kratob Mai” – Thai wooden stick dance performance by Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) staff.

A Thai Cultural Learning workshop on making Thai palm leaf ngop (woven hat) was also part of highlighted activities.

On this occasion, the participants joined in pouring water over the Buddha statue and the replica of King Rama VII, and also poured water to seek blessings from the retired civil servants and distinguished persons of the university. In addition, various units within the university also expressed their goodwill to each other by bringing snacks, drinks, and sweets to set up stalls for the participants to enjoy together.

On 22 February 2024, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) held an event to celebrate Makha Bucha Day at the Rajamangalapisek Education Park of STOU headquarters in Nonthaburi.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of STOU, presided over the ceremony hosted by the Office of Continuing Education. The ceremony included alms-giving, Buddhist sermon listening and a candlelight procession at Ho Phra Phut Ming Mongkhon Dhammasathan.

Makha Bucha Day is considered a significant Buddhist occasion in Thailand. Makha Bucha refers to the full moon of the third lunar month. This year Makha Bucha falls on 24 February 2024, which is a public holiday nationwide. So, the university held the event beforehand to allow administrators, faculty members, and staff to have the opportunity to perform the ceremony together.

On 27 July 2023, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University performed a ceremony celebrating Asalha Bucha Day and the Buddhist Lent Day of the year 2023, which falls on August 1 and August 2 at Ho Phra Phut Ming Mongkhon Dhammasathan of the University’s Rajamangalaphisek Educational Park. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narathip Sriram, Acting Vice-President for Education and Learning Support, presided over the ceremony.

There ceremony including food offering to 9 monks, offering of candles and lent robes, and candlelight procession.

In 2023, Visakha Bucha Day, which is the ceremony that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha, falls on 3 June.

Sukhothai Thammahirat Open University (STOU) held an event to celebrate on 2 June 2023
at Tri Sorn Building and Ho Phra Phut Ming Mongkhon Dhammasathan (Buddha Hall) in the Rajamangalaphisek Education Park. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of STOU, presided over the ceremony.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University has always supported Thai cultural preservation through the work of the Office of Continuing Education. Significant holidays are observed regularly throughout the year.

11 April 2023 – Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) held its annual celebration of the Thai New Year or Songkran in the theme of ‘Happy Songkran like a Northern soul’ at the main campus in Nonthaburi. Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, Chairman of the University Council, joined the party to give blessings to the participants.

STOU pays attention to the continuation of the country’s valuable traditions and cultures. Each year’s cultural events would be themed according to the Kathina Robe Ceremony’s location, promoting the diverse culture within Thailand. This year, we celebrate all events in the Northern culture of Lanna theme as the Kathina Robe Ceremony is scheduled to take place in Payao, a province in Northern Thailand.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council and Acting President of STOU presided over the opening ceremony. The main event is the pouring of water on the hands of revered elders and asking for a blessing. As Lanna way, participants present elders with Sompoi water. The elders, then, use Sompoi water to stroke the head of the participants and give blessings.

Another main activity held was Song Nam Phra, where participants poured traditional perfume, Nam Ob, scented water onto Buddha images and the late King Rama VII image. There were also cultural shows of traditional Lanna dances from Dhonburi Rajabhat University, a Lanna lantern-making activity, and a cooking demonstration of Northern Thai dishes. Moreover, many departments prepared various kinds of food and drinks to share with the participants.

Thais celebrate the Thai New Year Festival of Songkran during 13-15 April and generally return to their hometown for family reunion during these extended public holidays.