Barefoot and dressed only in saffron-colored robes, Theravada monks begin their daily ritual to collect alms (donations of food). Their only accessory to the ritual is the large bowl the monk carries known as ‘Bat’, these bowls have remained the same design for generations and are still made by traditional communities in Thailand.

©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
One such community exists in Bangkok and represents a good example of a Thai traditional way of life – Ban Bat. The community originally fled the war in Ayutthaya to take refuge in Bangkok and although the community has declined due to the introduction of factory-produced Bat, there are still a small number of families making Bat in the traditional way.
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
Ann Nakarat is a fourth-generation artisan who started her craft ten years ago, she was taught by her father and brother. It takes around two days to produce a Bat using traditional methods. The bowl is made in 8 pieces that are hammered into shape and held together by a metal rim. Despite the complexity and time-consuming nature of the process, souvenir Bats are available from the community at very reasonable prices.
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
Once the frame is complete, the gaps are then filled with individual pieces of steel which are all welded to the existing frame with melted copper wire. The steel bowl is then hammered into shape before being polished and treated with a protective lacquer. After 1970 when the Religious Affairs Department allowed the monks to use industrial bowls many of the craftsmen of the Ban Batt community had to turn to other occupations.
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
The hand-made bowls are correctly made according to Buddhist disciplinary rules that the alms bowl must be made from steel.
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
The bowl is hammered to perfect its shape and surface before it is painted.
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	Hand finished
Lacquering the bowls
Washing the bowls	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved	©Kieron Nelson "Vanishing Cultures Photography" All rights reserved
Bowls in Myanmar	Bowls in Laos
There used to be over 100 families here, but now there are just three. Most feel that this will be the last generation of making bowls by hand. The Ban Batt village is located at Soi Ban Bat, an alley off of Bamrung Muang Road. It is close to the Golden Mount Temple.