Thai cave rescue: Boys have heads shaved to become Buddhist monk novices
Eleven of the 12 boys had their heads shaved during the special ordainment ceremony, with their 25-year-old coach becoming a monk.
Tuesday 24 July 2018 14:25, UK
Eleven of the Thai football players rescued from a cave have been ordained to become Buddhist novices, with their coach becoming a monk.
The boys had their heads shaved, prayed to ancient relics and offered drinks and desserts in gilded bowls to spirits during the ceremony.
The 12th boy is not being ordained as he is not Buddhist.
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The main ordainment ceremony involving the boys aged 11 to 16, along with their 25-year-old coach, will take place at another temple on Chiang Rai's mountaintop on Wednesday.
After the second ceremony on Wednesday, the boys will return to Wat Pha That Doi Wao temple where they will live as monks for nine days, following 10 Buddhist precepts.
The temple's acting abbot, Phra Khru Prayutjetiyanukarn said: "This temple will be where they will reside after the ordination and I hope they will find peace, strength and wisdom from practising Buddha's teaching."
Buddhist males are usually expected to enter the monkhood, often as novices, at some point in their lives to show gratitude - usually to their parents for raising them.
Sangiemjit Wongsukchan, the mother of Ekarat, one of the trapped boys, said: "Ordinations are supposed to give us peace of mind.
"We can only do this for nine days because then he will have to go back to study and prepare for exams. Back to his normal life."
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A portrait of Saman Kunan, the Thai navy SEAL who died when trying to rescue the group, was on display during the ceremony.
Praphun Khomjoi, chief of Chiang Rai's Buddhism office, said the ordination was dedicated to Mr Kunan.
The ceremony came as Malcolm Turnbull met with nine Australians who helped the rescue efforts at the beginning of the month.
Anaesthetist Richard Harris and his diving partner Craig Challen were awarded the Star of Courage, the country's second highest bravery decoration, for their work, while six police officers and a navy officer were given the third highest, the Bravery Medal.
Mr Turnbull said: "You saved those young men and as you did so inspired not just your own nation, our nation - but holding its breath, and praying for your success - you inspired the whole world."
Mr Harris was specifically requested by rescue operatives and is understood to have been the last person to leave the cave.
He is also credited with sedating the boys so they would not panic, and then monitoring their health.
The Wild Boars team became trapped after planning to explore the cave complex for an hour after football practice on 23 June, when heavy monsoon rain started to fall and flooded the tunnels.
A rescue operation which drafted in divers and experts from around the world lasted nearly three weeks.
After the second ceremony on Wednesday, the boys will return to Wat Pha That Doi Wao temple where they will....