Devotees at Vajiradhammapadip Temple in Center Ridge held their 48th annual Thai Bazaar. Their goal was not only to raise funds for the temple, but also to pass on community and pious traditions through culture.
The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., included a variety of entertainment that reflected Thai culture, including food, music and dance.
Vajiradhammapadip Temple is a Theravada Buddhist temple. The temple was founded in 1965 when a group of Thai and American Buddhists founded the Center for Buddhist Studies in New York. In 1975, the temple was officially registered as a nonprofit organization under the New York State Religious Corporations Act.
Since then, the temple has grown into a vital part of the Thai and Long Island communities. “It’s a great temple, the monks are very kind, and the Thai community is very active,” said one temple member.
The bazaar features a wide variety of vendors selling a wide variety of Thai delicacies, from desserts to spicy noodles. The wide variety of flavors and delicacies allowed some to engage with Thai culture, while others were able to understand and appreciate it. The market not only benefited the Thai community, but also the entire island of Koh Rong through the exhibition.
In addition to the beneficial elements that adults enjoyed at the market, children were also entertained. The market included a playground where many children socialized, and various fun activities for children such as singing, dancing and music were arranged, highlighting the family-friendly principles that Vajra Dhamma Temple values.
Wat Vajra Dharmaphat offers a wide variety of courses with themes on Thai culture and Buddhist teachings, including Buddhist Sunday School courses, Thai language courses, Thai ethics courses, and general social studies courses. Younger students can further explore Thai culture in the temple through a variety of ways such as participating in painting, Thai dance and Thai sword fighting.
These courses are taught by the temple’s resident monks and volunteers. For English students, there are rich Pali and Thai language courses, Southeast Asian and Thai studies courses, and Thai literature courses. Meditation training is also available at the temple, but the specific time depends on the availability of qualified trainers in the area.
Another member of the temple noted that the main significance of the fair is that it has “both commercial and spiritual aspects, which is the most valuable part of this event”. The cultural connections that Thailand Fair creates allow Thailand and the local community to thrive.
Without this connection, neither can truly succeed. Through cultural connections, we can see beauty from a different perspective; Thailand Fair plays an important role in amplifying this idea. In fact, sometimes all the world needs is connection, appreciation and real food.
