中英對照讀新聞》Thais seek to restore fortunes with mock funerals 泰國人透過模擬葬禮 尋求重拾好運
◎孫宇青
In the Wat Bangna Nai temple on the outskirts of Bangkok, participants at a daily ritual clutch a bunch of flowers and lie down in a coffin with a sheet pulled over them as monks chant.
在(泰國)曼谷郊區的瓦邦納奈寺,一場每日儀式的參加者抓著一束花躺在棺材裡,上頭覆蓋著布幔,和尚在一旁唸經。
The temple draws more than 100 people a day who choose to perform the ceremony in the hope it can improve their fortunes or give them a fresh start. And for some, the pressures of life during the pandemic have made the ritual take on more importance.
這座寺廟一天吸引超過100人選擇進行這場儀式,希望可以改善運氣或重新出發。對有些人來說,疫情期間的生活壓力更為該儀式增添重要性。
"I have to admit that I’m stressed these days because I am earning less income because of the pandemic and I’m sure everyone here is feeling the same," said Nutsarang Sihard, a 52-year-old food stall owner.
52歲小吃攤老闆努薩朗.西哈說:「我必須承認這段日子壓力很大,疫情使我的收入減少,我相信這裡的每個人都有同樣感受。」
Participants pay 100 baht for the flowers, candles, and clothing that are part of the ceremony.
參加者須付100泰銖購買儀式所需的花、蠟燭和衣物。
They follow the instructions of the monks, by at first lying in a coffin with their heads facing to the west, the direction bodies may be buried, before switching sides to symbolize rebirth.(Reuters)
他們遵從和尚指示,首先頭部面向西方躺在棺材裡,亦即死後埋葬的方向,之後再把頭轉向另一邊,象徵重獲新生。(路透)
新聞辭典
fortune:名詞,財富;運氣。例句:That she had the fortune to interview the noted philanthropist was envious.(她有幸採訪這位名慈善家,令人羨慕。)
clutch:動詞,抓住。例句:Clutching the letter to her chest, she burnt out crying.(她把信捂在胸前放聲大哭。)
chant:動詞,吟誦。例句:Hong kongers kept chanting slogans outside the government headquarter.(香港人持續在政府總部外呼口號。)