Before his enlightenment, after 6 years of asceticism, a woman named Suchata fed an emaciated Buddha a bowl of rich rice pudding containing milk, honey, butter, nuts, seeds, coconut and grains. That simple act is essentially what is being recreated here and in select Lao speaking villages throughout Thailand but primarily Isaan.

The tradition is called Kuan Khao Tip, which translates to stirring the sweet rice.

There are 5 pots boiling over fire kept hot by a rotation of Monks adding fresh coal throughout the day. Each pot represent Buddha, the Monks, The community, fathers and mothers.

A stream of participants flow through all day – each going from pot to pot and stirring for about one minute at a time at each pot. They then circle back and do it again., completing three full rounds.

There's that number 3 again. What's the significane of three?

The three gems – Buddha, dharma, sangha.

Runs right alongside the trinity if you ask me...