October

Date(s): 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 October 2007 Venue: Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom The Long Boat race has long been a tradition in Thailand reflecting the carefree lifestyle and cohesion of Thais to the present day. After Ok Phansa, the villages near the riverbanks get together to celebrate their camaraderie. Date(s): 5-9 October 2007 Venue: Wat Phrathat Choengchum Woramahawihan, Sakon Nakhon The Wax Castle Procession is one of many long standing Hit Duan Sip Et Festival in reverence of the Phrathat Choengchum carried out every ok phansa, non more awesome than that held in Sakon Nakhon. It is believed that the tradition dates back to the time of Phrachao Suwan Phingkhan, who had requested that a wax tree be built on ok phansa day and carried to the Wat. The tradition continues today. Alms Giving, procession competition, Wax Castle competition, Miss Wax Castle Pageant, Long Boat Race, and other Festivities. For more information, please contact the Sakon Nakhon Municipality Tel: 66 (0) 4271 3280-1. Date(s): 5-11 October 2007 Venue: City Hall and on the banks of the Mekong River, Nakhon Phanom The Illuminated Boat Festival is a tradition carried out by the people in the I-san region on the 15th day of the waxing moon to the 1st day of the waning moon in the 11th month. The festival can be seen in Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, and Ubon Ratchathani. The occasion is especially important in Nakhon Phanom where the villagers divide up into khums taking the names of the nearby wats. Thus, if they live near Wat Klang, they would call themselves Khum Wat Klang. Each khum would compete with each other in the suang huea (boat race), wax castle competition, and the Illuminated Boat Procession. The Ruea Fai (or huea fai in the local dialect) is a 10-12 metre banana tree trunk or bamboo boat filled with sweet, khao tom phat or offerings. The boat is surrounded by flowers, incense sticks, candles, lanterns, khi tai, to light up the boat before it is let out into the river. The act of letting the boat into the river is called kan lai ruea fai or poi huea fai.Kan lai ruea fai is carried out for the same reasons as for the Loi Krathong Festival, but differs in that it is celebrated 1 month ahead. Specifically, kan lai ruea fai is linked to the local belief in, and worship of, the Buddha's foot imprint on the sandy beaches of Namthamahanathi River, the Buddhist trinity (Buddha, Thamma, Sangha), reverence of Phra Mae Khongkha, and reverence of the Phaya Naga. All these beliefs have melded together nicely in the celebrations, and as the river view on the 15th day of the waxing moon of the 11th month is particularly beautiful the locals chose to revive this tradition on this day. The festival as it is known today was revived in 1983 when the various sectors of the community were asked to fabricate ruea fais from buoyant material in the shape of a boat longer than 12 metres in the shape of a swan (hong), naga (nak), garuda (khrut), or any other shape pleasing to the eye. There were 52 entries and when seen together on the Mekong, the boats made for a lovely sight to be admired by all. The seven tribes Phrathat Phanom worship dance, Illuminated Boat Festival, ruea fai competition, Pha Khao Laeng style dinner, local art and culture exhibition, concerts, games, festivities, boat race (the Mekong is known for its rapid flow making it difficult for the participants). For more information, please contact the Nakhon Phanom Municipality Tel: 66 (0) 42511535. Date(s): 11 October 2007 Venue: Wat Sang kat Rattanakhiri, Uthai Thani The Thewo Alms Giving tradition is mentioned in the Buddhist Theworohana Sut that recounts the Buddha's return from the second level heaven (there are 6 in all), after delivering a sermon to his mother, into Sangkatnakhon on the 1st night of the waning moon in the 11th month. The locals had gathered together to give alms to the Buddha.Uthai Thani has similar religious sites and a similar topography as that of the legendary town. Together with other Buddhist activities, the sight of 300 monks coming down from the top of Mount Sakaekang is really something to be seen. Light, sound, and aroma show of the Buddha's life. Uthai Thani Specialties Exhibition, revival of central style dining in Kin samrap khao wan chom tamnan phuttha prawat, Alms giving to 500 monks on ok phansa day, and procession of floats telling the story of the Buddha's life. For more information, please contact the Uthai Thani Provincial Office of a swan Tel: 66 (0) 56511063. Date(s): 8-10 October 2007 Venue: Bang Phli, Samut Prakan This is a tradition of the people of Bang Phli comprising of Thais, Laotians and Ramans. While the Thais and Laotians were able to make their way further a field, the Ramans failed in their endeavours and decided to return home to Pak Lat (Phra Pradaeng). At dawn, on the 14th day of the waxing moon in the 11th month, prior to their journey home, they picked some lotus for worshiping Phra Khatha Ph an in Pak Lat, and entreated their Thai friends to pick the lotus every year, on that same day, so that they could come up the river to collect them. Thence a tradition was born and carried through until the present day. Luang Pho To procession, Row boat race, sea boxing, lotus salver competition, snakeskin gourami (fish) competition, traditional Thai food festival, games.For more information, please contact the Bang Phli Municipality Tel: 66 (0) 2337 3086, 66 (0) 2337 3497. Date(s): 8-15 October 2007 Venue: Tapi River, Surat Thani The Chak Phra tradition is carried out both on land and in the water. The day prior to the Chak Phra ceremony, the Wat and locals gather together to ready the boats, floats and various decorative items, placing Buddha images on the various butsabok, boats, and floats, after they have given alms to the monks (the khao tom mat is a must). On ok phansa day, the boats and floats (with Buddha images in them) are pulled from the wat to the festivities, with the beating of the phon drum preceding, announcing that the Phra have been pulled. Phum Pha Pa Contest, Phanom Phra Boat Procession, Phanom Phra Car, local cultural shows, long boat race. For more information, please contact the Surat Thani Municipality Tel: 66 (0) 7727 2513, 66 (0) 7728 2614. Date(s): 9 October 2007 Venue: The fields in front of the City Hall Chon Buri Once upon a time, the farmers would bring their produce (bananas, coconuts, present day. banana leaves, and sticky rice) to town for sale during the end of Buddhist Lent, when the town folks would be getting ready for merit making activities, including the making of khao tom hang. The farmers would then return home with goods in the buffalo cart that they had brought with them. The buffalo carts were generally parked at the wats and the buffalos were walked from time to time. This then developed into a race from place to place. As time went by, decorations were put on the buffaloes to cheer them up. These would include putting socks on their horns, decorating the harnesses and whips, and head decorations. The buffalo riders were also increasingly adorned. Thence the tradition. Although the buffaloes no longer carry goods, they have become a good excuse for people to get together each year. Buffalo Procession, Buffalo Dressing Contest, Buffalo Run, Nong Nang Ban Na Beauty Pageant, stalls. For more information, please contact the Chon Buri Municipality Tel: 66 (0) 38276321. Date(s): 10-11 October 2007 Venue: Along the Mekong River, Nong Khai A real amazing experience is waiting for you to see at Nong Khai Province. Every year, on the night when the Buddhist Lent is ended, the various size of fires sprinting above the water surface.The Legend of Naga Fireball Festival or Bang Fai Phaya Nak (Naga) Light and Sound Show, Floating of the Illuminated Boat in worship of the Phaya Nak, against the stream, art and culture show, boat race near Phon Phisai, naga worship dance, watch the bang fai phaya nak phenomenon on the Mekong in Nong Khai. Date(s): 11-14 October 2007 Venue: Lang Suan River, Chumphon The Chum phon boat race is an exciting event to watch as victory is only gained through seamless teamwork of the rowers. The steersman and the helmsman play vital rolls in snatching the winning flag and steering the boat straight, respectively. If the steersman misses the winning flag (climbing the a 3.5 metre stern), falls into the water, or if the boat capsizes before the tail has cleared the finishing line, the team forfeits its win. The trick in winning is not the speed of the rowers but the skill of the steersman in climbing sufficiently up the stern to gain a height advantage in snatching the flag. A tie is called if boats come in neck to neck with all other conditions met. The excitement in watching the proceedings, the skills of the boats men, and the camaraderie of the people in the locale all mix together into a tradition that has been fully revived and worth seeing. Buddha procession, Long Boat Race-unique in that one must climb the stern to capture the winning flag, a parade of the King's Shield and Cup, a water parade, procession competitions, and other festivities. For more information, please contact the Lang Suan Educational Office Ruea, Tel: 66 (0) 7754 1222. Date(s): 23-24 October 2007 Venue: Phatthanaphaknuea Bridge, Nan The racing boat in Nan are distinct from those in other provinces in that it is made from a single log hewn down into a slimline style, and can carry 30-58 people. A naga head is carved into the stem post of the boat with its tail snatching appearing in the stern. The body is colourfully decorated with a mixture of her paint and gold leaves. It is believed that the naga brings seasonal rain, making the Nan River delta fertile. The boat race itself is a tradition from olden days and is celebrated over 2 periods-during and after Buddhist Lent. The first period, the opening of the field, is known as the tan kuai lottery festival. Closing the field, in the second week after lent, sees 40-50 boats in competition for the King's Cup, granted in lield and Cup, 1983. King's Cup Boat Race, boat contest, Ti Khong Long Nan Ti Pan Khaeng Ruea, cheer leading contest, sale of local food and products. For more information, please contact the Nan MuniciPalit Tel: 66 (0) 5477 7626, 66 (0) 5477 4502.