Significance and Ritual Functions of Ramakien Characters Worship in Bang Pla Community, Amphoe Bang Phli, Samut Prakan Province

Abstract

This article purpose is to apply folklore methodologies to examine significance and ritual functions of Ramakien Characters Worship in Bang Pla Community, Amphoe Bang Phli, Samut Prakan Province from fieldwork documents gathered during 2019-2021. It is revealed from the study that members of Bang Pla Community worship “Phra Ram” and “Phra Lak”, the main protagonists of Ramakien, as “their highest-leveled guardian spirits”, which are symbolized by two sacred iconic plates (so-called chawet in Thai) made of iron wood. Other characters: Mae Sita, Mae Benyakai, Pho Sukhrip, Pho Hanuman and Pho Chomphuphan are worshipped as the attendants of Phra Ram and Phra Lak, as well. Yearly, the sacred-plate procession ceremony, which is composed of three ritual processes: worshipping ritual, iconic-plate procession and Buddhist chanting ritual, is held on 15^th – 16^th of April by cooperation of all members in order to beg the spirits for protecting people in the community. The annual ceremony does not only show the integration between animism, Hinduism and Buddhism existing in Bang Pla Community but also consists of 1) individual function: to support people’s spiritual needs for earning their livings, physical healing and being wealthy with auspiciousness and 2) communal functions: to protect people in the community, to be spiritual anchor, to encourage all and to reinforce people’s harmony.