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The Poy Sang Long is a three-day celebration of Buddhist novice ordination which usually takes place in late March or early April of every year in Thailand’s most northwestern province of Mae Hong Sorn. The festival is the custom and tradition of the Shans or Tai Yai an ethnic Thai tribe who migrated from northern Burma and then inhabited most of Mae Hong Sorn. The Tai Yais have a strong devotion to Buddhism, and to follow their age-old tradition the young boys between the age of 7 and 14 will be ordained as novices for a period to learn the Buddhist doctrines and to gain merit for their parents. It is believed that the tradition is probably to follow in the footsteps of Prince Rahula, the first Buddhist novice who was the Buddha’s own son. The young prince gave up his worldly life to follow his father’s spiritual teachings.The festival is rich in colour and display making it a most exciting event that draws residents of the entire province to take part. Prior to the arrival of the three-day festival, the boys have their heads shaved and are then bathed and anointed with special waters. They are dressed up in jeweled finery and their faces are expertly made up. These boys are known as the “Jewel Princes” or “Look Kaew” in Thai. In the early morning of the first day, the celebration begins with a procession around the town. Accompanying the procession are flutes, lutes, fiddles, drums, and cymbals. In the procession, each boy is accompanied by three attendants; one to carry hi