Many couples think of their wedding day as the start of a new life together but 10 newlyweds in Thailand today chose to take the idea more seriously than most when they lay in a coffin as they said their vows. According to BangkokPost, the wedding ritual, conducted by monks, allows couples to rid themselves of bad luck by being ‘brought back to life’ and is believed to bring true love, prosperity, and protection from harm.
Participants made offerings to the monks before taking their places side-by-side in the large pink coffin – floral bouquets held to their chests. The monks then draped a large white sheet across them – representing their death – and performed chants usually reserved for funerals. The prayers ended with blessings for a new life.
When the sheet is removed from the coffin, it signals the start of a life free from bad luck. It also could serve as a reminder for couples to live with the reality that nothing lasts forever – a key component of the Buddhist philosophy. The temple held the event for the first time last year when Valentine’s Day fell on Makha Bucha Day – a Buddhist holiday – and had to do it again this year after a number of brides and grooms contacted the temple asking for their marriages to be blessed.
Madness in practice!