THE PRESERVATION AND INHERITANCE OF THE NATIONAL INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: CASE STUDY OF THE RAIN PRAYING RITUAL IN CHIANG RAI PROVINCE

Abstract

The goal of this research article is to create community-based initiatives that uphold and preserve the rain praying ritual, which entails listening to the Dharma, and to examine its role and relevance as a cultural inheritance. The action research is being conducted in conjunction with qualitative research in the Huai Krai community in the Wiang Subdistrict, Thoeng District, Chiang Rai Province. Among those who were able provide information, 32 individuals who participated part in the rain-requesting ritual were particularly selected to serve as key informants. Experts evaluated the study instruments, which included questions from focus groups and interviews. Data were gathered through the examination of secondary sources, field research involving interviews, focus groups, and activity development. Qualitative data analysis employed content analysis principles by methodically categorizing data in order to establish linkages between different data sets and draw conclusions from data.

The findings demonstrated that

1.The significance and role of the ritual of praying for rain as an intangible cultural inheritance It was discovered that the Huai Khrai community is comprised up of ethnic Thai Yuan who migrated from Nan province, while another group is made up of Isaan people who moved from the northeast to avoid the drought. The villagers have traditions and views relating to Buddhism and thoughts about spirits that look after the forest, preserve water, and carry out rituals to raise Khun Huai spirits since they worship both Buddhism and animism. Following that, the monks incorporated the annual practice of raising Khun Huai spirits before the rice-farming season with the Buddhist notion of listening to the Dhamma in order to pray for rain. This tradition eventually became socially accepted. This was discovered that its roles include establishing love and solidarity among the community, bridging the gaps between the institutions of society to enable peaceful coexistence, and boosting morale. Regarding values, it was discovered that morality and ethics were valuable, as were the ties among members of the society.

2.Creating community-based programmes to preserve and carry on the traditional practice of listening to the Dhamma in order to pray for rain as a cultural heritage will involve people from various backgrounds, such as local cultural councils, communities, temples, schools, and administrative organizations that collaborate to host events in the form of a learning center in Wat Huai Krai. The lesson plan and innovative learning environment at Huai Krai School, along with the creation of a community constitution to preserve and carry on the Huai Krai community's tradition of listening to the Dhamma and praying for rain, are regarded as models for maintaining and advancing regional cultural traditions.