Phuang malai

Phuang malai (พวงมาลัย) are a Thai form of floral garland. They are often given as offerings or kept for good luck.

There is no written evidence on who first created phuang malai. The first record of phuang malai was found during the reign of King Rama V or Phrabat Somdet Phra Paramintharamaha Chulalongkorn the Great. There was a literary work written by the king called "Royal ceremony in 12 months" พระราชพิธีสิบสองเดือน which contained information about events and ceremonies in the Sukhothai Kingdom. In the 4th month ceremony, it was mentioned that fresh flower garlands were made by the king's chief concubine “Tao Srijulalux” พระมหาเทวีศรีจุฬาลักษณ์. Then, in the Rattanakosin Kingdom the phuang malai became an important ornamental object in every ceremony. Every girl in the palace was expected to acquire the skills of making phuang malai. Queen Sripatcharindra สมเด็จพระศรีพัชรินทราบรมราชินีนาถ พระบรมราชชนนีพันปีหลวง devised a wide variety of intricate phuang malai patterns.

Phuang malai patterns can be divided into six groups.

Phuang malai can be classified into three categories by use.

In addition to the malai's use as offerings, gifts, and souvenirs, malai have many more functions. They can be used to decorate throne halls and houses. Malai can also be hung on Thai musical instruments to pay respect to the masters of those instruments and for good luck and success in a performance.

Thai bamboo garlands are decorative woven offerings sometimes used as a substitute for floral garlands and as a way to hang other offerings. Bamboo garlands are part of the tradition of Phoo Thi in the village of Kut Wa in Kuchinarai district, Kalasin province, in the northeast of Thailand. Bamboo garlands are also used in the festival of Buddhist Lent during the Thai rainy season, called “Bun Khaw Pra Dab Din” or “Bun Phaung Malai Baankutwa”.

To celebrate Phoo Thi, the villagers of Kut Wa create ornate garlands and form a procession around Kok temple to display their handiwork, with dancing, singing, and rhythmic drumming.

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Wikipedia