Bell Casting

Last Saturday we met the students early and drove about an hour to a village where a temple was having a bell casting ceremony. Apparently this is a rare event, which makes sense since bells last for centuries! This temple was casting a large bell and 2 smaller ones, probably the size of this one. I think most people in the audience had never seen a bell casting, and we were so lucky to be invited!
We got off the bus and walked up a hill to the temple.

The monk was having a special building built for the new bell.

These large cauldrons had coal and wood burning in them, then various pieces of metal were placed on top to melt down to the bottom. It looked like the metal had been collected from any available source, scraps of copper wire, rebar, pipe, etc. Metal recycling in action! (Although the plastic bags that contained the scraps were just thrown on top too to melt off into the air...)

Some new metal bars were also used, and it was all weighed, through practice they must have known how much was needed for the 3 bells.

The crowd prayed and chanted and many were beautifully dressed.

Monks visiting from other temples helped with the ceremony.

The cauldrons were lifted by a pully on a rolling frame and brought over to the large mold. Another pully tilted the cauldron to pour the molten metal while the head monk added people's donated jewelry to be cast into the bell.

Finally we were treated to a delicious meal of all vegetarian foods, although many were prepared to mimic meat dishes. I guess the monks want to give up meat but not the taste!

We did not get to see the bells. They need to cool for 3 days, then the monk will test them to make sure they have a nice sound. I'm sure they will.