Some young adolescents in Kanchanaburi are being ordained as naga or buatnaag, i.e. candidate Buddhist novices, during the summer school holidays, in order to are gain merit in favour for their parents, not so much for themselves.

It is understood that by ordaining, children pay off a debt towards their parents for giving them life and for raising them. Akin to the Thai Phuan tradition in Thailand and reminiscent of the Shinpyu in Myanmar (fig.), these candidate Buddhist novices, are escorted to the temple in a parade on horseback, a reference to Prince Siddhartha who abandoned his secular life also on a horseback (fig.).