Boys to monk: Young children devote their lives to become Buddhist monks

IN BURMA’S ancient cities children as young as seven years old have dedicated their lives to becoming Buddhist monks

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The young boys become monk novices from the age of seven

The practice of children training to be monks has been a mainstay in the predominantly Buddhist country for centuries.

Thai photographer Nuttawut Jaroenchai, 32, documented the day-to-day lives of the monk novices as they went about their daily duties - which includes studying sacred texts and meditation.

Myanmar is renowned for having some of the world's most beautiful shrines which are called Pagodas

Starting at a young age, the boys are novices in training until they reach 20, when they can finally become fully-fledged monks.

With no need for money the monks rely on donations of food from the public

Nuttawut said: “Myanmar (Burma) is a predominantly Buddhist country and the people are very devout Buddhists.

“I wanted to take pictures that would help tell the story of their devotion.”

When they reach 20 years of age the novices become full pledged monks

During his travels the photographer visited the Burmese cities of Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay which are of significant importance to Buddhists in the country as they are home to some of the oldest shrines - known as pagodas.

Novices ad monks are revered among Buddhists in Myanmar for their devotion

The city of Mandalay alone has more than 700 pagodas, making it the cultural and religious centre of Buddhism in the country.

Novices and monks have no use for money and live off food donations given to them by fellow Buddhists, who see them as an integral part of society and also see it as a way of gaining merit.

Novices typically spend their days reading sacred text and meditating

While walking the streets the young boys are given these donations in a metal pot, which can contain a variety of different food from kind-hearted members of the public.

Many of the children who train to be monks come from poor families who see this way of life as a way to get their kids out of poverty.

A young monk pays his respect to Buddha in a shrine to the deity

Financial hardship in the country has seen a rise in families sending their children to monasteries, due to the fact that they are given a free education and regular meals.

Many of the boys who become monks come from poor families as it's a way out of poverty

Nuttawut said: “Poor people become monks or nuns to study because they have no money to go to school. This practice is not just happening in Myanmar but also in other Buddhist countries like Thailand.”

Thai photographer, Nuttawut Jaroenchai spent time travelling the streets of Myanmar to snap the monks

After receiving their meals from members of the public the novices and monks will not eat anything past noon until the next morning as they are taught to live within their means.

“The monks only eat for sustenance, so they eat only two meals a day - some eat only one meal a day,” he added.