Poy Sang Long Festival 2025 - What, When and Where

The Poy Sang Long Festival, one of Northern Thailand’s most unique and culturally rich ceremonies, is a traditional rite of passage for young boys of the Shan ethnic group. Also known as the “Festival of the Crystal Sons”, this event marks the boys’ initiation into monkhood, an act of great spiritual merit in Buddhism. The festival blends spirituality, tradition, and celebration, making it a captivating experience for locals and tourists alike.

Dates and Locations of Poy Sang Long Festival 2025

The Poy Sang Long Festival does not have fixed dates but generally occurs between March 20 and mid-April. Celebrations are held in numerous temples in Northern Thailand, particularly in provinces with a strong Shan community. The two most popular temples in Chiang Mai hosting the festival include:

• Wat Ku Tao
• Wat Pa Pao

Both temples are known for their vibrant ceremonies, drawing visitors eager to witness this colorful and spiritual tradition.

What is Poy Sang Long?

The Poy Sang Long Festival is more of a sacred rite than a traditional celebration. It is a Shan Buddhist tradition where boys, typically between the ages of 7 and 14, undergo an elaborate three-day ceremony to ordain as novice monks. The festival symbolizes the boys’ spiritual journey and is inspired by the story of Prince Siddhartha (Lord Buddha), who renounced his royal life to seek enlightenment.

The young boys are dressed as princes, representing Prince Siddhartha’s princely origins, and are adorned with colorful and elaborate costumes, jewelry, and makeup. They are then paraded through the streets on the shoulders of male relatives or mentors, reflecting their elevated spiritual status.

How to Experience the Poy Sang Long Festival

In Thailand, which is a neighbouring country to Myanmar, the Shan immigrants reside in the northern part and hence, also observe the Poy Sang Long festival. Here, the vibrant festival is celebrated for three days. 

1. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, the cultural hub of Northern Thailand, is one of the best places to experience the Poy Sang Long Festival. Temples like Wat Ku Tao and Wat Pa Pao host elaborate ceremonies that attract locals and visitors alike.

2. Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son, a province with a significant Shan population, offers an authentic and less commercialized experience of the festival. Temples in this region showcase the deep-rooted traditions of the Shan people where the ceremony is usually four to five days long. .

3. Nearby Provinces
Other provinces in Northern Thailand, such as Chiang Rai and Lampang, also hold Poy Sang Long ceremonies, making it accessible for those traveling across the region.

How is Poy Sang Long Celebrated?

The three days of festivities is a very colourful affair.

Rup Sang Long (First Day) 

• ‘Rup Sang Long’ is the first day of the festival. On this day, the families of the boys get together, exchange gifts and indulge in a sumptuous feast. The boys are then carried on the shoulders of an elder member of their respective families and taken to the temple.
• Once at the temple, the hair and eyebrows of the boys are shaved off. A purification ritual is carried out where each boy is bathed in holy water. After that, they are paraded around accompanied by musicians who play the flutes, drums, and cymbals.
• During the parade, each boy has three attendants by his side. One, who carries him on his shoulder; the second, who carries an umbrella to provide shade from the sun and the third, who protects him and the jewels he wears.

Kham Kaek (Second Day) 

• The boys have adorned in snow white turbans. The families resume their feasting and dancing in celebration of the boys. 
• The boy is once again led in procession to the temple. Once there, they offer prayers to Buddha and gifts to the resident monks while seeking their blessings.

Hae Khrua Lu (Third Day) 

• This is the day of ordination. The boys are seated on thrones and once again led to the temples. 
• Once here, they seek permission from the monks for their ordination. 
• After they are accepted by the monks, the boys take part in exchanging vows, change their princely robes for simple yellow monk robes and are finally accepted as novices.

Highlights of Poy Sang Long Festival 2025

1. Elaborate Costumes and Adornments

One of the most striking features of Poy Sang Long is the transformation of young boys, known as Sang Long, into princely figures. They wear vibrant, intricately embroidered costumes, adorned with jewelry and decorative headdresses. Their faces are beautifully painted with makeup, symbolizing their royal status before stepping into monkhood.

2. Grand Processions Through the Streets

A defining spectacle of the festival is the colorful street procession. The Sang Long are carried on the shoulders of their male relatives or guardians, symbolizing their detachment from the material world. The lively parade is accompanied by traditional Shan music, rhythmic chants, and a jubilant crowd, creating a scene of devotion and festivity. At times, the boys also ride horses, adding to the grandeur of the event.
 

3. Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals

The festival is deeply spiritual, with significant Buddhist practices, including:

• Offering Alms – Families and locals make merit by offering food and gifts to the monks and Sang Long.
• Ordination Ceremony – The boys officially become novice monks in a revered temple ritual. Their monk robes are presented by their parents, marking a moment of immense family pride.
• Meditation and Chanting – The young novices engage in meditation and sacred chanting, reinforcing their commitment to Buddhist teachings.
• Feast for the Novices – Once ordained, the boys are treated to a lavish meal before beginning their monastic life, as monks are not permitted to eat after midday.

4. Vibrant Community Involvement

Poy Sang Long is a community-driven festival where families, relatives, and local residents actively participate. It is a time of cultural pride for the Shan people, showcasing their rich heritage and deep-rooted spiritual values.

5. Festive Atmosphere and Celebrations

The celebratory spirit of Poy Sang Long extends beyond religious rituals. The event is marked by:

• Dance and Music – Throughout the three-day festival, attendants and musicians keep the energy high with lively performances.
• Offering Procession – Participants carry monk essentials like robes, bowls, mats, and candles, along with symbolic offerings like gold and silver artificial lotus flowers, dried food, and banknotes. Towards the end of the procession, people hold bamboo branches, signifying blessings.
• Rice Wine Tradition – The attendants and musicians consume large quantities of rice wine, adding to the exuberance of the festival.

Significance of the Poy Sang Long Festival

The Poy Sang Long Festival holds profound cultural and spiritual importance:

• Spiritual Growth: By ordaining as novice monks, the boys gain spiritual merit for themselves and their families.
• Cultural Preservation: The festival helps preserve the traditions and identity of the Shan ethnic group.
• Community Bonding: The event fosters unity and cooperation within the Shan community, as families and neighbors come together to support the ceremonies.

If you are planning that long overdue trip to Myanmar or Thailand, then make sure that you expect it around the months of March-April so that you get the unique chance to witness this cultural extravaganza. This exciting and colourful festival is a must-watch as there is plenty of celebrations throughout the three days, whether it is in the daytime or the evening.

Do not miss out on the chance of witnessing Poy Sang Long which is rightfully a  spectacular celebration in which friends and family of the boys' flock together to rejoice in the ceremony. The food stalls, the dance and music performances and a lot of other entertaining activities are a pure delight to those who are seeing it for the first time.