Precious Traditions and Ways of Life |39
Wai Khru Ceremony
The Way of Expressing Gratitude
and Reverence
Parents are a child’s first teachers. A teacher who provides knowledge for the future benefits
is comparable to a second mother.
Showing respect, humbleness, gratitude for patrons is a beautiful Thai culture since the ancient
times. Likewise, when knowledge is transferred by knowledge providers, they are all considered
teachers. The Teachers’ Appreciation (“Wai-Khru”) Ceremony is therefore emerged and held on
the first occasion for students to submit themselves to their guidance. As a result, the Teachers’
Appreciation Ceremony is most likely hosted every year to show respect and deep appreciation
to teachers for their benevolence. It is also an opportunity to seek teacher’s support in guiding on
higher education.
The main purpose of the Teachers’ Appreciation Ceremony is to pay homage to teachers
and students accept them as virtuous teachers with full of morale and knowledge. At the same
time, the students as the successors of academic legacy are determined to receive the knowledge
transferred from the teachers to achieve the ultimate goal of education. The meaning of the word
“teacher” is a guru who is able to transfer knowledge to students and take care students. The
essence of being a teacher is not only the transfer of various knowledge, but the teacher, with the
righteousness, is ready to inform and teach students on how to behave. • The important gods of dance and music
“‘Khon artists’ Wai Khru is held
as a mask covering ceremony
for worshiping Khon teachers.
After being covered with
the mask from the teacher,
that person becomes a complete
artist. The mask covering
ceremony is classified in three
levels: mask covering to be
accepted in a group of artists
and for auspiciousness; mask
covering to a teacher; and
mask covering to act on behalf
of the teacher as that person
is authorized to perform the
Wai Khru ceremony.”