I later learnt that there is also a practice whereby a monk is accompanied by a little boy who may be an orphan or from a very poor family. The little boy will assist the monk and in return he would be given some of the food offered to the monk. The boy in the picture could possibly be a disciple of the monk. His job is to assist the monk in carrying the food and even money offered by the people.
In Buddhism, giving alms is a sign of respect given by lay Buddhists to Buddhist monks. It is not considered as charity. Actually the act of alms giving is considered as an opportunity for the lay people to make merits.
What is merit? Well, according to Buddist teachers, merit is perceived to be pure energy which is behind all successes in life, such as physical appearance, economic standing, and reputation. In addition, almsgiving establishes a symbolic connection among spiritual enthusiasts as they all come together for a single purpose. It is also their way of showing their humbleness and respect for the noble ones. Moreover, almsgiving is a stress of inner peace and personal honesty, which is the first step to the purification of the mind that will lead to the higher inner grace which are scruple precepts and meditation.
Monks will start their alms walks early in the morning walking around without shoes and will go on these alms walks without the intent of receiving anything. It is more of a chance for people to make merit. People will offer food and cash which is placed in a bowl the monk carries. Flowers or other items are usually put into an orange shoulder bag that the monk (or his assistant) also brings along. The food given to the monks must not be leftovers and should be offered with alms giving in mind. In return, the monks offer prayers and blessings to the giver.
REFERENCES
http://www.dhammakaya.net/news/510531_Alms_giving_and_Peace.php
http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/39162
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