RITUALS AND THE CONTINUITY OF THAI RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE MADHUPAYASA (MILK RICE) RITUAL

Abstract

Rituals constitute a fundamental component of social structure and human life, particularly within Thai society, which is characterized by religious, belief-based, and cultural diversity. Rituals function as patterned practices grounded in religious traditions and belief systems while also serving as social mechanisms that foster relationships within communities and transmit values, norms, and cultural identities across generations. This academic article aims to examine the role of rituals in sustaining Thai religious and cultural identity through a case study of the Madhupayasa (milk rice) ritual, which originates from a significant episode in Buddhist history in which Sujata offered Madhupayasa to the Bodhisattva prior to his Enlightenment. The findings indicate that the Madhupayasa ritual operates as a social process that interweaves Buddhism, belief systems, agrarian ways of life, and rice as a fundamental resource for community livelihood. The ritual serves as a symbolic representation of both physical and spiritual nourishment, compassion, and the practice of the Middle Path. Moreover, the communal preparation of Madhupayasa creates a social space for participation, collective learning, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, local wisdom, and moral values. From a community development perspective, the Madhupayasa ritual functions as a form of cultural capital that supports participatory processes at multiple stages, including the identification of community needs, decision-making, implementation, benefit-sharing, and monitoring and evaluation. These processes contribute to strengthening community cohesion, reinforcing cultural identity, and fostering sustainable community development.