1.
GV Temple (3 shots)
0.11

2.
SV Japanese visitors arrive
0.16

3.
CU Buddhist statue with Japanese child watching (2 shots)
0.22

4.
SV & CU Devotees light incense sticks outside footprint shrine (2 shots)
0.30

5.
CU Japanese children watch Japanese party light incense sticks (2 shots)
0.40

6.
GV Japanese group walk to temple
0.43

7.
SV Devotees strike bells (2 shots)
0.53

8.
CU & SV Japanese child & women strike bells (2 shots)
1.01

9.
LV & CU Musicians play in front of collection bowls (4 shots)
1.25

10.
SV & CU Japanese group by collection bowls (2 shots)
1.33

11.
LV & CU INT Devotees place gold foil paper on Buddhist statues (4 shots)
1.47

12.
LV & CU INT Temple woman striking wooden percussion instrument while holding small ball in other hand (4 shots)
1.58

13.
LV & CU Women shake bamboo sticks (2 shots)
2.05

14.
SV & & CU Women put gold foil on statues and men deposit money and gold in shrine (4 shots)
2.24

15.
GV Temple
2.27

16.
SV & CU Japanese women in souvenir shop (3 shots)
2.38

17.
GV Temple with Japanese group leaving.
2.43



Initials BB/0038 BB/0038



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of Buddhist devotees, mostly Chinese, are currently flocking to the shrine of the Holy Footprint about 85 miles (136 Kms) north of Bangkok to prepare for the highlight of the Phra Festival.

Full moon on Monday (28 February) is the high spot of this year's festival. Japanese Buddhist Association members were at the shrine on Thursday (24 February) as final preparations were being completed for the climax.

SYNOPSIS: The Shrine of the Holy Footprint has been a focal point for Thailand's population over the last few weeks. Japanese Buddhist Association members have also been flocking to the shrine--about 85 miles north of Bangkok--as the highlight of the annual feast of Phra approaches.

More than 160 Japanese Buddhists wee at the shrine on Thursday to pray during the festival's preparations for the full moon--the climax of the festival--this coming Monday.

The Shrine of the Holy Footprint was built during the 16th century, and retouched a hundred years later. Every year, thousands of Buddhists gather there for the prayer festival.

Thousands of devotees are expected to visit the shrine as the climax of the festival approaches.