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Encyclopedia ID 309

Phuang malai flower garland threading

Also known as พวงมาลัย

Phuang malai flower garland threading: photograph by Sharon Hahn Darlin
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0, source on Wikimedia Commons

Thread jasmine buds, marigold petals and folded petals onto a string in the right order to match garland patterns within a time limit.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Thailand. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Southeast Asia and the Islands.

Sources

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