Introduction
In Thai, a temple, monastery or even a Christian church is referred to as a Wat. There are well over 30,000 active Buddhist temples/monasteries in Thailand.
The Wat
Thai temples tend to be a collection of buildings, they are sacred places and built to a distinctive architectural style. While they are primarily a place of worship and Buddhist teaching Wat’s are also good places to view examples of Thai architecture and artwork including paintings, sculptures and carvings. Many Wat’s contain religious artifacts of historical importance along with other historical relics.
The Purpose of a Thai Wat
The Wat is an important part of everyday life for Thai Buddhists often at the centre of community activities.The non-sacred parts of the Wat’s grounds are used in a similar way to a park found in the West. You will often see children playing sports, flying kites and riding bikes. Family groups often stroll in the grounds of the Wat and live music and concerts are often performed there along with all manner of other events. People seeking shelter may also stay in a Wat and it is also common practice for people to bring and leave stray animals within the temple grounds.
Administration of Thai Wat’s.
Each Wat in Thailand is administered by an Abbott. Who apart from being responsible for spiritual guidance is also responsible for the maintenance of discipline among the monks and lay people. He also has the power to exclude monks and lay people from the Wat. The Abbott may have several assistants but there is only one Abbott at each Wat.
