[JoesBro]

This thread is called sai sin. It is found at many ceremonies, particularly in the North East of Thailand. At weddings the thread links the head of the couple being married. At funerals it is carried in a circle around crematoriums 3 times. At pre-ordination ceremonies for monks, participants sit in a circle, their hands raised in a wai holding the thread. Its like a spiritual circuit that connects everyone, carrying merit up and down a line or around a circle of people. The tieing on the wrist helps retain this power in the form of safety and good health/wealth and protection from evil spirits.
When should it be taken off ? "Up to you" -but never at the ceremony concerned. 3 days is ok -"3" is an auspicious number -"9" even more so in Thailand. However, I met an (English) postgraduate when I was at University who had (proudly) retained his "sai sin" for 2 years !

By coincidence, "Thai-Blogs" has just uploaded a picture of monks holding sai sin here.

http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php?...&c=1&tb=1&pb=1