February

Date(s): 25 January-5 February 2003 Venue: Pak Nam Pho Market, Nakhon Sawan The Pak Nam Pho area (Nakhon Sawan) is home to a large population of Thais of Chinese descent (Cantonese, Hainanese, Teow Chao, and Hakka) who have been celebrating the Chinese New Year with offerings to the spirits and their ancestors, since 1935. Apart from the offerings, there is also a Dragon and Lion Parade. In the old days, the Chinese believed that the dragon was a god, benevolent towards mankind, making possible rain, wind, fire, and the seasons of the year, who must be paid homage to as a show of gratitude. The Lion is a symbol of courage, stability and all things noble. In order to ensure good luck, a lion procession is held to chase away all evil. Statues of various spirits and deities in the various temples are brought out and paraded around for general homage. Pak Nam Pho Spirit Procession, The Golden Dragon Procession, Eng Ko Pho Bu (a Chinese fan dance reminiscent of a peacock splaying its tail), The International Lion Dance Championship Competition, light and sound show, Chinese cultural shows including Chinese opera, Chinese dress. For more information, please contact the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Office Tel: 66 (0) 5622 7001, the Nakhon Sawan Sports Association Tel: 66 (0) 5622 7444. Date(s): 1-2 February 2003 Venue: Yaowarat Road (China Town), Bangkok Thailand has long been a melting pot of many nationalities, with a significant number of the populace now being of Chinese descent. Thoroughly assimilated into all aspect of Thai society and commerce, the various aspects of the Chinese culture can be seen in concentration in Yaowarat (China Town) and Charoen Krung Road, packed with shops and stalls. Each year, Thais of Chinese descent congregate here to celebrate the Chinese New Year, welcoming fellow Thais and foreigners alike into getting involved. Stalls, music, Lion Dance Contest, Chinese cultural shows, Chinese Opera. For more information, please contact the Bangkok Tourist Bureau Tel: 66 (0) 2225 7612-5. Date(s): 1-3 February 2003 Venue: King Taksin Monument, and the Main Stadium, Chanthaburi King Taksin the Great ruled Siam during the Thon Buri era. Red Cross Stalls, Trade Fair, Concerts, Miss Chanthabun Pageant For more information, please contact the Chanthaburi Provincial Administration Office Tel: 66 (0) 3931 2567, 66 (0) 39311544. Date(s): 1-9 February 2003 Venue: Chai Nat Bird Park, Mueang, Chai Nat At the end of the harvest, straws are gathered and transformed into value added products. The Fair was originally conceived as a project to increase awareness of the use of agricultural by-products in 1985. Contest, pageants, and other festivities.For more information, please contact the Chai Nat Chamber of Commerce Tel: 66 (0) 541 1595. Date(s): 7-16 February 2003 Venue: Phra Nakhon Khiri, Phetchaburi Phra Nakhon Khiri was once a residence of King Mongkut (Rama IV). Each F year a general celebration is held in remembrance of its historical significance. Phra Nakhon Khiri is decorated with more than 40,000 lights, and is circled by the attendees in praise of the kings and good spirits of Phetchaburi, local cultural show, demonstration of Phetchaburi craftsmanship, an oxen cart race, stalls. For more information, please contact the Phetchaburi Provincial Office Tel: 66 (0) 5641 1595. Date(s): 7-9 February 2003 Venue: Nong Buak Hat Public Park, Chiang Mai Flowers in Thailand blossom at the beginning of the year, with an explosion of colour to be savoured in January and February-African marigolds, zinnias, globe amaranths, chrysanthemum, coxcombs, roses, and orchids, from the Laos vanda, an orchid having light blue flowers in large sprays on stems one to three feet long, down to the petite denrobium.Mountainous Chiang Mai is the perfect setting for this symphony of colours, giving rise to a flower festival truly reflective of the locals' love of one of their own. Pageants, floats, agricultural shows, and contests.For more information, please contact the Chiang Mai Municipality Tel: 66 (0) 5333 8048. Date(s): 8-9 February 2003 Venue: King Rama II Memorial Park, Samut Songkhram The Renaissance King, Rama II of the Chakkri dynasty, was involved in military affairs, governance, up holding the Buddhist faith, creation of art, and temples. His artistic skills also extended to literary works, dance forms, musical compositions, sculpture, architecture, etc. In 1968, UNESCO honoured him as a major contributor to world culture. On the 200th anniversary of his birth in Samut Songkhram, the Rama II Foundation was set up to disseminate his artistic and literary works, under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn. Khon (Masked Dance Drama) by Senior and Young dancers from the Fine Arts Department, Hun Krabok (Masked Hand Puppet), local movies, Thai cooking demonstration including sweets from Thai literature, competitions. Sale of local products, gifts, and souvenirs. For more information, please contact Samut Songkhram Provincial Office Tel: 66 (0) 3471-1997, (or) King Rama II Memorial Park Tel: 66 (0) 26287217. Date(s): 9-18 February 2003 Venue: Leng Chu Kiang Shrine (the Goddess Lim Ko Niao Shrine) , Pattani An old Pattani tradition that has been celebrated for nearly 100 years, and has only been officially adopted since 1996. There is normally a large attendance by Thais and Chinese who make the effort to pay homage to the goddess and other spirits. The Goddess Lim Ko Niao is a relict to which homage has long been paid on the fifteenth day after Chinese New Year. The Festival includes a procession of the goddess and other images from the Leng Chu Kiang Shrine around Pattani.Miracle shows including carrying a Chinese style palaquin through water, fire walking, lion Dance, Dragon Dance, and other fun festivities. Date(s): 13-15 February 2003 Venue: Kradan Island, Trang The Province of Trang, On together with the Trang Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, first organized the Underwater. Wedding Ceremony on 20 April 1997 on Rok Island, and has continued to do so for the last five years at Kradan Island. The event has been entered into the Guinness World Records, and is known far a field. Bridal Procession around the Trang Municipality, continuing on to Kradan Island by long tail boats. Thai Wedding Ceremony (Rot Nam Sang) where 17. blessed water is poured from a conch Retell onto the bridal couples' hands while wishing them well for the future, on the beach. Registration of the marriages 40 feet underwater. For more information, please contact the Trang Chamber of Commerce Tel: .L 66 (0) 7521 0238, 66 (0) 7522 5353. Date(s): 14-20 February 2003 Venue: Sa Kaeo Junction, Sa Kaeo Sa kaeo is the new province in the east of Thailand. The province itself is rich with eastern culture. Opening procession, Thai Fashion Show, Trade Fair, concert, Pong Lang Concert, etc. Date(s): 14 February-15 May 2003 Venue: All over Chumphon In order to take advantage of the pristine conditions available: only during these months, the Province has been promoting the white beaches, corals, and 1 numerous islands around the gulf since 1990. Sea tour, coral watching (diving), tours of orchards, beach sports (volleyball, sail boating, fishing, etc), camping, seafood festival, tourist attraction photo contest. For more information, please contact the Chum phon Provincial Office Tel: 66 (0) 77511551. Date(s): 15-17 February 2003 The Thai Elephant Venue: Conservation Centre, Lampang The elephant is held in high regard in Thailand and has served as the bearer of kings, in battle and official ceremonies. Since 1995, the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre has joined hands with the Province of Lampang in raising funds to feed elephants in the care of the Centre. The proceeds from this event are given to the Centre to provide food for the elephants, support for the Centre' s activities, and the conservation of elephants. The Offering is held on the 15th to the 17th each year.Satok is a term in the Northern Thai dialect referring to a serving platter cum table that is raised on a pedestal or legs, and is generally made of wood. They can vary in size depending on the amount of food being served.Satok procession, including a large satok filled with food fit for an elephant. Processions and local shows. Dining from a huge satok, a night bazaar, sales of local handicraft, local cultural shows, elephant exhibition, and feeding the elephants. For more information, please contact the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre Tel: 66 (0) 5422 8108. Date(s): 16 February 2003 Venue: Pradu Hok Shrine, Na Mueang Lawn, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Legend has it that Phaya Sithammasokkarat, Phaya Chantha-raphanu, and Phaya Phonghasura were preparing to celebrate the enshrinement of a holy Buddhist relic. A few days before the celebrations were to commence a red cloth, the Phra Bot, inscribed with Buddhist writings, washed ashore onto Pak Phanang Beach. This cloth was then presented to Phaya Sithammasokkarat, as the city's overlord. On the day of the celebration, he organised a procession to take the cloth up to the stupa, wrapping it around the structure. The tradition continues to this day. The populace of Nakhon Si Thammarat has long observed this tradition on Magha Puja and Visakha Puja days. The main activities include the procession carrying a piece of cloth, many hundred yards in length, from the Na Mueang Lawn to the Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, to be wrapped around the base of the Stupa, the celebration of the Phra Bot cloth and the Pradu Hok Shrine, the procession itself, and the Mathupayat rice (Sticky rice in coconut and sugar cane syrup) stirring ceremony. For more information, please contact the Nakhon Si Thammarat Educational Office Tel: 66 (0) 75346515-6, 66 (0) 7535 6151 Date(s): 14-16 February 2003 Venue: Narai Palace, Lop Buri King Narai Reign Fair has been organised in honour of King Narai an to promote tourism in Lob Buri. King Narai the Great, son of King Prasat Thong and his consort, ascended the throne on 9 October 1656 as Ayutthaya's 27th monarch, and reigned for 32 years to 1688. The construction of his palace in Lop Buri took 12 years to complete, and incorporated western style architecture and Thai decorations. King Narai resided at the palace in the dry season, preferring to be in Ayutthaya during the Monsoon. For a brief period, Lop Buri served as the country's capital, when King Narai moved his court there, full time, to avoid internal and external conflicts and to indulge in his passion for game hunting. King Narai died in Lop Buri. With his passing, Lop Buri fell into decline. Procession depicting the time of King Narai the Great, a light and sound show at Narai Palace, Narai Palace Night, Thai lifestyle show including cultural show, local customs, Thai children's games, children in hairstyle 0 does gone by (Chuk : hair pulled up in a bun at the crown; the area around the bun is generally shaven, Klae : hair in pigtails, the area around the pigtails is generally shaven, Ko : pony tail, and braided), contests, human chess game, other fun activities. Paticipants dressed in Thai costumes. For more information, please contact the Lop Buri Provincial Office Te 66 (0) 3641 1500. Date(s): 126 February-6 March 2003 Venue: Kalasin Phitthayasan School Sports Ground and the Lawn in front of the I a Kalasin City Hall, Kalasin In honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn's participation in a Pong Lang dance with the students of the Kalasin Dance College occasion of the Four Regions Dance Show on 26 February 1993, the day has been held as a day for celebration with the organization of a cultural festival together in conjunction with the Red Cross. The Pong Lang dance style involves a troupe of performers playing an assortment of instruments with one or two of the players dancing as well. A typical assortment would include a couple of chest high drums that are placed on the ground and played by the main dancer who beats it to keep time while dancing. There are also earthen jars, strung with rubber, that are flicked during the dance. Other instruments include the Kong(gong), ching(small cymbal), and khaen(panpipe).Homage to Phraya Chaisunthon, the founder of Kalasin, local cultural procession, Pong Lang competition, pageants, competitions, exhititions.For more information, please contact the Kalasin Provincial office Tel: 66(0) 4381 1695