Fish MeritAt the Wat Yannawa Temple

Along the Chao Phraya RiverBangkok, Thailand

By Liezel Magno Castro

This is Wat Yannawa or The Boat Temple

My Family loves visiting Wat Yannawa

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Behind the Wat Yannawa Temple is the Chao Phraya River

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Chao Phraya is a long river that stretches from north to south of Thailand.

Here you can see 5-star hotels, churches and famous temples like the Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) and many more.

You ride the Chao Phraya Express Boats to take you from one place to another.

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Many activities take place in the Chao Phraya river. Aside being a route for transporting people and goods, there is also the annual Royal Barge for the Thai Royal Family and the nightly dinner cruises.

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Another enjoyable activity that you can do here is feeding the birds and the fishes.

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Breads and pellets are sold at the river bank.

Fishes and turtles are also being sold for people who wants to do fish / turtle merits.

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

One Sunday, after our regular Sunday Mass, we visited Wat Yannawa. My daughter Leecia, fed the fishes and the birds, again in the Chao Phraya.

While busy enjoying the sceneries, we’ve noticed a group of three Thai students conducting a Fish Merit.

In a pail, there were three fishes representing the three girls.

Their Fish Merit begins with a prayer.

They’ve recited a prayer (or Suad, for the Thais).

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

The girls’ prayers took about 10 minutes. After they’ve prayed, they’ve released the 3 fishes in the river.

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Fish Merit is one of the activities in Thailand where one believes that when you release a fish (for some, they use birds, while others they use turtles), you give the creature its life back. By doing so, you will also receive peace, life and freedom for yourself.

Me and my daughter with the 3 Thai girls.

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Fish Merit in the Chao Phraya River by Liezel Magno Castro

Of all the wonderful treasures in this world, there will be nothing more precious to someone than

giving them a piece of your heart. 

Every time you share the goodness of your heart, you always end up winning, because LIFE IS AN ECHO.

It bounces back to you what you have given.