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Jack Kurtz   [save as a favorite?] Photographer Let me know when this page is updated: Image © Jack Kurtz || 22 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Monks' living quarters are used as a tattooing room for sacred Sak Yant tattoos at Wat Bang Phra. Wat Bang Phra is the best known "Sak Yant" tattoo temple in Thailand. It's located in Nakhon Pathom province, about 40 miles from Bangkok. The tattoos are given with hollow stainless steel needles and are thought to possess magical powers of protection. The tattoos, which are given by Buddhist monks, are popular with soldiers, policeman and gangsters, people who generally live in harm's way. The tattoo must be activated to remain powerful and the annual Wai Khru Ceremony (tattoo festival) at the temple draws thousands of devotees who come to the temple to activate or renew the tattoos. People go into trance like states and then assume the personality of their tattoo, so people with tiger tattoos assume the personality of a tiger, people with monkey tattoos take on the personality of a monkey and so on. In recent years the tattoo festival has become popular with tourists who make the trip to Nakorn Pathom province to see a side of "exotic" Thailand. The 2013 tattoo festival was on March 23. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ || General Information: || Portfolio: Jack Kurtz: Photographer Address: Bangkok, Bangkok 10100, Thailand Phone: +66-08-8017-7172 (Thailand) 602-633-5215 (US for Voice Mail and Messages only) Fax: 712-781-7928 Jack Kurtz's Message: I photographed the Wai Khru ceremony (tattoo festival) at Wat Bang Phra outside of Bangkok Saturday. Monks recited a series of prayers and from time to time a men would go into a trance state and assume the character of their sacred sak yant tattoos. A man with a tiger tattoo might start roaring then stand up and circle nervously, then roar some more and charge the stage. A man with a monkey tattoo might start chattering monkey like, stand up, start jumping up and down and then charge the stage. Men with snake tattoos would crawl along the ground, snake like, towards the stage. The tigers and monkeys charging the stage run over and into anything in their path until they reach the stage (including photographers). There's more on my blog, jackkurtzphotography.net and in my PhotoShelter archive or in this gallery: http://goo.gl/Zbd2U I've relocated to Bangkok, Thailand. I'm working on stories and freelancing. If you need a photographer in Thailand, give me a shout. Thanks for looking, Jack Last Update: 56 days ago Member Since: 2.26.2005 (Senior Member) || Contact Jack Kurtz: Your name: Your Email: Your phone: Message for Member: message for Jack Kurtz Are you a spammer? Of course I am! No, I am NOT a spammer! ...maybe... || Tell A Friend: Your name: Your Email: Friend's Email: Message for Friend: message for friend Are you a spammer? Of course I am! No, I am NOT a spammer! ...maybe... The images below are from the portfolio of Jack Kurtz. They are presented here for your viewing pleasure. These images may not be used elsewhere and are protected by copyright. To see these images, click on the icon and you will see a much larger image. 1 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 22 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Monks' living quarters are used as a tattoo... 2 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 22 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A monk gives a man a sacred Sak Yant tattoo... 3 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man prays in front of the stage at the W... 4 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man channels a tiger during the tattoo f... 5 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Medics help a man come out of a trance sta... 6 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Volunteer medics try to restrain a man in ... 7 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:Men rush the stage at the close of the Wat B... 8 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man with a tiger tattoo rushes the stage... 9 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man is restrained by a friend after he w... 10 "WatBangPhraTattooFestival" 23 MARCH 2013 - NAKHON CHAI SI, NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Monks spray the crowd with fire hoses at t... || Search Jack Kurtz's Image Archive: You can search for additional images by this photographer by conducting a keyword search on his/her archive. Vertical Horizontal Square Any      || Jack Kurtz's Recent Forum Posts:   [ Detailed Forum Stats ] 5.06.13 11:23 PM Adobe forcing people to the cloud if they want new features. 5.03.13 1:33 AM No More Press Box at Kentucky Derby 4.26.13 1:38 PM Portraits of Miss Korea 2013 Contestants Spark Discussion 4.25.13 8:41 PM Camera strap suggestion needed 4.11.13 5:03 AM This takes me back... Kodak DCS100 || Jack Kurtz's Additional Galleries: Chiapas Catholics: www.sportsshooter.com/jackkurtz/catholics Mexico City: www.sportsshooter.com/jackkurtz/mexicocity Immigration: www.sportsshooter.com/jackkurtz/border || Jack Kurtz's Web Links: My Homepage and Archive: www.jackkurtzphotography.com My Blog: www.jackkurtzphotography.net

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