[AdobebePhoto]

Are there any DOs and DON'Ts that I must be particularly aware of when I visit Thai graves or cemeteries?

Do the Thais actually go to the graves of their beloved ones who passed away on their death anniversary? Or do they have day like the Chinese (qing ming jie) where people go and tidy the graves?

Thanks.

[monologue]

I don't think I've even seen a Thai cementary.
What I mean is I've seen Chinese-Thai and Thai-Christian cemetaries, but of course that's not all or even most Thais. So as for Thais that don't fit into those categories, I believe they are cremated and don't have cemetaries, but I'm not sure.

[Arkadiyas]

There are a lot of cemetaries in the South... as Muslims bury their dead usually. I think there is the same amount of respect as there are in other countries -- in that some people have personal superstitions and don't like to walk over someone's grave, whereas kids may run around and play in them, etc.
There is one in the village of my Thai family and kids play there all the time, but I think that creeps out most folks.

[Adamanta]

Depends on what your definition of "grave" is. If you mean a place where the remains of a body is interred, then yes, they go to the temple on the anniversary of the death, though more commonly they would go during Sonkgran holiday and ask the monks to join in a ceremony to bless the dead. The graves are not usually large as Thai Buddhists cremate their dead. Sometimes they will put the ashes in a hole in a wall and then close it with a picture and name of the dead. Richer families will inter family members in small chedis. The bigger chedis we often see in temples are for Buddha relics and/or ashes of the kings.

When visiting temples, always dress respectfully and keep your noise level down.

[timmybrown]

Are there any DOs and DON'Ts that I must be particularly aware of when I visit Thai graves or cemeteries?

Follow what your host do.

Do the Thais actually go to the graves of their beloved ones who passed away on their death anniversary?.

Not sure. Probably some but not many since these cemetries are usually far in the country side like in Chonburi so they usually go only during the Qing Ming festival one time a year.

Or do they have day like the Chinese (qing ming jie) where people go and tidy the graves?

Yes for the Chinese Thai.

[AdobebePhoto]

Thanks for all the info. Appreciate all of them.