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A group of young soccer players rescued from a cave in northern Thailand have thanked “the world” as part of an evening ceremony following their departure from a Buddhist temple.
Video taken at the scene shows the Wild Boars team donning their uniforms for the first time in nine days, since 11 of the 12 members were welcomed into a mountain monastery as novices.
The boys gathered for photos in front of vases of flowers and board covered with photos, as part of a ceremony thanking people from around the world for their participation and support for the dramatic rescue last month.
![The 11 Thai boys who were rescued from a cave they were trapped in for more than two weeks have spent nine days as Buddhist novice monks. Picture: AAP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/3JuO4VtFIuSMhJJH_-B5n2bjWYA=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F08%2F04%2F16%2F31%2FThai-Cave-Rescue-Boys-Monkhood-3.jpg)
![Dressed in robes with shaved heads, the boys have come out of monkhood, where they were being cared for. Picture: AAP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/Lo2a4Lw7bjAnxpOirToC3nInRCo=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F08%2F04%2F16%2F30%2FThai-Cave-Rescue-Boys-Monkhood-4.jpg)
Earlier, dressed in orange robes with their heads still shaved, the eleven boys aged 11 to 16 bid farewell to the monks who had taken care of them during their stay, organised as an expression of gratitude for last month’s rescue.
The boys and their coach also held a Buddhist prayer in front of the cave for the last time before returning to normal life.
Special tutoring sessions will be given to the boys, who have missed their classes since they were trapped in the cave, their teachers said.
![Thai boys thank “the world” as part of an evening ceremony. Picture: AP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/PE7mNBmdUrCqt3LPt5TiNoC8jyU=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F08%2F05%2F09%2F19%2FTHIABOYS_AP3.jpg)
![Another ceremony will be held involving the boys to thank the international support the football team received during their time in the cave. Picture: AAP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/0_i8xmF5a-d6zL6-yUdeUYFIhwE=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F08%2F04%2F16%2F30%2FThai-Cave-Rescue-Boys-Monkhood-5.jpg)
In Thailand, where the majority of the population are Buddhists, ordination serves as an act of gratitude. Any adult male can enter a brief monkhood, while boys can serve briefly as novices.
Adul Sam-on, 14, was the only one in the group of 13 trapped in the cave who did not enter monkhood because he is a Christian.
![The boys and their coach also held a Buddhist prayer outside the cave they were trapped in before they returned to their normal lives. Picture: AAP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/gfT09sjsLUa_nZoKvpHn30rXbdo=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F08%2F04%2F16%2F31%2FThai-Cave-Rescue-Boys-Monkhood-2.jpg)
![In Thailand, Buddhist ordination is an act of gratitude - any male can enter brief Monkhood while boys can serve as novices. Picture: AAP](https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/ORM7y_2_e8TFPri8gThTlv_qbcQ=/500x0/https%3A%2F%2F1.800.gay%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F08%2F04%2F16%2F30%2FThai-Cave-Rescue-Boys-Monkhood-1.jpg)
The coach, 25-year-old Ekapol Chantawong, is expected to remain a monk for three more months.
The group visited Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non Cave, 1000 kilometres north of Bangkok, on June 23.
They were trapped inside for more than two weeks after a flash flood blocked their only exit, leading to Thailand's biggest ever rescue operation and involving thousands of people from many countries.
With AAP.