| Birthdays all around the world are special and | | | | While the monks are blessing you in this part of |
| everyone and every religion has its own unique | | | | the birthday donation, you will pour water into a |
| way of celebrating this very special day. In Thai, | | | | container which is called Kruatnam. At the same |
| the special unique way that they celebrate their | | | | time, you will dedicate ment to someone that you |
| birthday is to Tak Bart. Now you may be | | | | want to appreciate or to yourself. |
| wondering what in the world this could possibly | | | | Once this is done, you will then pour the water in |
| mean and what it is that they do. It means that | | | | the tree. This is the tree in which Thai people |
| you will be happy and good things will come to | | | | believe that you will send your good deed or |
| you. There are several different steps to the Tak | | | | merit to others. Before this entire process even |
| Bart which is a very special Thai birthday donation | | | | begins, there is an incantation that is recited. It is |
| that happens only once a year. The process is | | | | said before the offerings are done to the monks. |
| the offering of food to the monk. | | | | This is what begins the process of the birthday |
| The types of things that are offered to the | | | | donation in Thai. There is also an incantation that is |
| monk are fresh water, food, rice and of course | | | | recited during Kruatnam. Both of these must be |
| dessert. These are the necessities of life and that | | | | recited at the right time in order for the process |
| is why they are used for the offerings. Your first | | | | to be complete. |
| step in the process is to prepare your offerings. | | | | Although it is a easy and simple process to follow |
| This is going to be what you offer the monk. | | | | for the birthday donation, there are a lot of steps |
| Upon seeing the monk, depending upon if you are | | | | that are required in order to do the process the |
| man or woman, you will either say NiMon Krap or | | | | right way. This gives the Thai people an |
| NiMon Ka. Krap is man and Ka is woman. This is | | | | opportunity to thank and pray for those that |
| the second step of a Thai birthday donation. | | | | mean a great deal to them on their special day. |
| Your next step is to give your offerings to the | | | | They are not a selfish people and this is just one |
| monks. You will place them in a bowl of which | | | | of the ways that they take the opportunity to |
| each one will be holding. After this, you will sit on | | | | show that they care for those that are around |
| the heels of your feet with your hands together | | | | them and for the ones that they love or have |
| on your forehead. This is called Phanom Mue and | | | | loved and lost along the way. |
| you will wait for your blessings from the monks. | | | | |