Wat Pa Saeng Tham upholds abhayadāna tradition: 1.6 tonnes of “chopping‑board fish” released back to nature at Khlong La Reservoir

HatYai - On 18 September 2025, Wat Pa Saeng Tham in Ban Phru, HatYai District, Songkhla, held its annual abhayadāna (life-release) ceremony, presided over by Abbot Phra Ajahn Anan Anuttaro. The temple has observed this tradition on 18 September every year.

As part of the ceremony, the monastic community and lay devotees pooled donations to buy “chopping‑board fish” — aquatic animals about to be cooked — from markets across HatYai. More than 1,600 kilograms in total were rescued, including striped catfish, walking catfish, snakehead fish, and frogs, all species suited to the ecology of local natural waterways.

After the morning alms-offering, the abbot and devotees travelled to Khlong La Reservoir in Khlong Hoi Khong District, Songkhla, a major natural water source, to conduct the release. Flat‑bottom boats were provided by the Mittraphap Samakkhi Foundation (ท่งเซียเซียงตึ้ง) to carry the animals to the reservoir’s open waters.

The release aimed to save animals from imminent slaughter and return them safely to their natural habitat, a profound act of merit in the Buddhist tradition. This form of giving nurtures compassion while fostering awareness of environmental stewardship.

Wat Pa Saeng Tham’s abhayadāna has become a cherished annual tradition, made possible through cooperation among public agencies, private organisations, and the wider Buddhist community. It reflects the unity and shared faith of the HatYai community in creating merit together.

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