Live from Youth – Talking with Mor Lam Performers: A Joyful Art

"My father plays songs for me every day. He teaches me to sing, to sing Mor Lam all the time, and it's fun. When I joined the club with the seniors, I liked it even more because it's something that makes me happy, and my family supports me too," says Prai Fa Chumpol, a 10th-grade student, sharing her memories of why she loves Mor Lam. The path of many Mor Lam masters starts like this: parents, grandparents, family members who love Mor Lam, who listen, watch, and experience the entertainment. Over time, they want to learn and improve themselves. Prai Fa is a new wave of Mor Lam enthusiasts interested in preserving the tradition. She has the opportunity to explore, discover herself, and transform her passion into a dream by joining the Huhn Kratib Khao (Rice Basket Puppet) club at her school. "I've been in this club for 3 years. It's fun, exhausting, with many emotions. Most importantly, I've become more responsible, learned teamwork, and get to travel. We've performed in many places, many provinces," she says. The Huhn Kratib Khao Mor Lam club, the 'Child Angels' group from Dong Bang Pisai Navagarn Nusororn School in Nadoon, Mahasarakham, offers fun lessons to help children learn about their community and showcase their potential. Through learning from temple murals, local literature, and practicing puppet manipulation, these students are keeping a rich cultural tradition alive, proving that young people can be passionate about traditional performing arts.