[fgfblog]

This is called "keun ban mai" or literally "going up to a new house" in English. In the old days, the traditional Thai houses were on stilts so you had to go up steps in order to enter the house. This ceremony is still quite common. In fact one of the teachers in my department is having this ceremony on Monday for her new house. The day is set by the monks so she has to take a day off work! Nattawud's aunt also recently had this ceremony and I believe he is writing about it in this week's Gor's World column.