This long scroll illustrates the story of Vessantara Jataka, the story of Buddha’s past life as Prince Vessantara. The narrative is conveyed in thirteen sections. At the heart of this story is the message that merit can be acquired through acts of great generosity, epitomised by Prince Vessantara, who gave away his white elephant, which had the power to bring rain to people in need of water. These banners were hung on the walls of the prayer halls of temples in north-east Thai villages to make the stories more accessible to the laity during the Bun Phra Wet festival.
