Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

The Giant Swing is a religious structure formerly used in an old Brahminism ceremony.

The place is sited in front of Wat Sutat in Pranakorn District, Bangkok.




It was recorded that the Giant Swing was constructed in 1784 in the reign of King Paputtayodfa Chulalok (Rama I; 1737-1809) in front of the Brahmin temple or called today as Tewasatan shrine.

During the reign of King Paputtalerdla (Rama II; 1767-1824), the swing ceremony was discontinued as the swing had become structurally damaged by lightning.

In 1920 (the reign of King Wachirawut (Rama VI; 1881-1925)), it was renovated and moved to its current location in order to prepare the former space for a gas plant construction.




The ceremony was again performed until 1935 when it was finally discontinued in the reign of King Prachatipok (Rama VII, 1893-1941) after several fatal accidents.

The last renovations were done in 1959 and after many, many years of exposure to the weather the wooden pillars were showing signs of serious damage.

A major reconstruction began in April 2005. Six teak tree trunks were used. Two of them used for the main structure of the swing. The remaining four used for support. The total height is 21.15 meters standing on a giant round white stone covered with red tile platform 10.50 meters in diameter. The swing was taken down in late October 2006. The work finally finished in December of the same year.

The rebuilt swing was dedicated in royal ceremonies presided over by King Pumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) in September 2007. The timbers of the original swing are preserved in the Bangkok National Museum.

In 2005, the Giant Swing, together with Wat Suthat, was proposed as a future UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the old days, the annual swinging ceremony known locally as "lo-ching-cha (pulling the swing (= ching cha)) began as according to an ancient Brahminism relating that after God Brahma created the world, he sent God Shiva to look after it.

It is said that Goddess Uma was worried that the earth would meet its doom soon but God Shiva thought otherwise so a bet was on.

The mighty Naga was asked to tie himself between the two giant trees rooting in a vast river. God Shiva then would stand on one foot on Naga's mid trunk. Then the Naga would swing himself back and forth. Even on one foot, God Shiva stood still without fall or even sway. That meant God Shiva won the bet and also meant that the earth God Brahma had created was safe.

For the swinging ceremony, two giant poles represent two giant trees. The platform represents the river. The swing represents the mighty Naga and the Brahmin priest represents God Shiva.

After the ceremony, the Brahmins would swing, trying to grab a bag of coins placed on one of the pillars.

It was said that fatal accident happened every year but the swingers did not mind. They believed that dying while performing the sacred ceremony would grant their afterlives in heaven.