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CONCORDIAN

By: Kru Nid

“Pajera chariya honti Khunuttara Nu sa Sa ka….”

This Balinese sentence is the beginning of the prayer for teachers which means, “The teacher who educates is the most valued person.” Students will sing this prayer to salute their teachers on a special day which is

one of the most important ceremonies at Concordian, “Wai Kru ceremony”.

The Wai Kru ceremony is very formal and decorative and also is a vital part of the traditional Thai educational system. It is held for the students to pay respect and express their appreciation and gratitude to their teachers. Students will bring flowers to their teachers as a symbol of their respect and readiness to learn. The traditional offerings for Wai Kru represent a symbolism of student qualities such as:

-The Dok Kem has the same name as the Thai word for needle. So it means the student will be sharp-witted and brainy.

-The Ya Praek (Bermuda grass) stands for patience. The student will show perseverance in their ability to learn.

-The Dok Ma Khue (eggplant flower) stands for respect. When the tree blooms, its branches bend down in the same way

a student pays respect to their teacher. Towards the end of the ceremony, the teacher gives students advice and blesses them to be successful in education. As Thai culture fosters a deep respect for educators, the “Wai Kru” ceremony is a brilliant way to start the academic year and formalize the student–teacher relationship as we have done every year at Concordian.

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