Trang Vegetarian Festival 2009 Photo Album

Trang Vegetarian Festival 2009
Photo Album, 23 October 2009

credit : Thumrin Hotel, Thumrin Thana Hotel, Trang

Wat Sothon Woararam Worawihan Temple, Chachoengsao Privince, Thailand

Wat Sothon Woararam Worawihan Temple, Chachoengsao Privince, Thailand

Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan in Muang district, includes the most important Buddha image

 “Luang Pho Sothon”.

Chachoengsao, A Buddhist city

Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is located on the east of Bangkok. Its fertility is due to Bang Pakong River. It is an important venue for agricultural products in the Central Region, with mango as the most popular fruit of the province. Moreover, it is the location of the sacred Phra Phutthasothon Buddha image (the Luang Pho Sothon statue).

The history of Chachoengsao dated back since the Ayutthaya Period during the reign of King Phra Borom Tri Lokkanat. Most people live along the banks of Bang Pakong River and canals. Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon is the center of beliefs and faith. In the past, Chachoengsao was a small town, and was upgraded to a province in 1916.

Chachoengsao is 80 kilometers from Bangkok, with the area of 5,351 square kilometers.

Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan
This temple is in the municipal area by the Bang Pakong River. Built in late Ayutthaya Period, with its original name of “Wat Hong”, it is the location of Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon, the important Buddha image in the attitude of meditation with a width of 1.65 meters and a height of 1.48 meters high. According to the legend, this Buddha image had been floated along the river, before being placed here at this temple. The original image was a beautiful Buddha image, but later on cement was placed on the image to prevent from burglary. Worshippers from all walks of life come to pay respect to this most reputed image by pasting gold leaves on the image.

The present chapel (ubosot) is a new, beautiful, and gigantic building which has replaced the old one. The chapel actually depicts the style of the applied Rattanakosin period.

credit : tourismthailand.org

Loi Krathong and Candle Festival

Photo of TAT

Loi Krathong and Candle Festival, Sukothai
Date      :  31 October - 2 November, 2009
Venue : Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukothai
Highlights:
You will be dazzled by the float procession of large krathong from 17 Northern provinces. The procession will consist of krathongs from government agencies, state enterprises, private sectors, and general public, including hanging lanterns, Krathong design contest, and Miss Noppamas Beauty Contest, light and sound presentation, firework displays, Sukhothai arts and culture performances, and the activity of “Dawn of happiness”.
Make Your Krathong, Krathong Lesson, Send E-Card, Download Loikrathong's lyrics, Audio, VDO Loikrathong, Karaoke click

Photo of TAT

Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival

Date  :  31 October - 3 November, 2009

Vene  :  The Phae Gate, banks of the Ping River, Chiang Mai Municipal Office, Chiang Mai
In addition, it is the great festival of Lanna duly succeeded from ancient age. “Yi Peng” or full-moon day of second lunar month of Lanna villagers is corresponding to the full-moon day of 12th month of central region during the end of raining season and beginning of cold season when the climate is very nice and fair. One tradition of Lanna other than Loi Kra Thong on the river is to light up the lantern and float up in the sky based on their belief that to pay worship to Phra Ket Kaew Julamanee in the heaven or to relief one’ bad luck for more auspicious life.
Hightlights
An amazing procession of hanging lanterns, Krathong design contest, Miss Yi Peng beauty contest, light and sound presentation in Ping River, the ancient Thai Lanna Krathong activities, local cultural performances, and local handicrafts market in Lanna style.

Giant Panda born in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tak Loi Krathong Sai Festival
Date     :   31 October - 4 November, 2009
Venue   :   Banks of Ping River, Tak
"The thousands lantern Loi krathong Tradition"

The ancient tradition of Tak province with specific characteristic different from other places, namely, Krathong is made of coconut covers as major element because Tak peoples like to have “Miang” (a kind of Thai hors d'oeuvre) as refreshments and produces as important native products. Since lot of coconuts are used to make Miang stuffs. The coconut covers are therefore used to make Krathong with lighting to float along the water until becoming several thousands lanterns procession floating along the water and it is very beautiful scene that rarely seen.
Hightlights
An exceptional opportunity for you to experience the atmosphere of joining the Krathong Sai (floating coconut-shell krathong in line) and lantern, the illumination of Krathong Sai, light and sound presentation, fireworks, water curtain presentation in “The Legend of Krathong Sai”, the longest Krathong Sai, local cultural shows, food and OTOP products.

Photo of loikrathong.net

Bangkok Loi Krathong Festival
Date  :  31 October - 2 November, 2009
Venue  :  Banks of the Chao Phraya River (KrungThep Bridge - Krung Thon Bridge), Bangkok
Hightlights
Enjoy viewing the illuminated float procession and the contest of Loi Krathong traditional boats, Banks of the Chao Phraya River
Experience an amazing atmosphere of the Loi Krathong
credit  :  tourismthailand.com
photo  :  loikrathong.net

Bangsai Loi Krathong Festival
Date  :   2 November, 2009
Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre of H.M.Queen Sirikit of Thailand
59 Moo 4 Bangsai District, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand 13290
Tel. 66+35+366252-4  web site : bangsaiarts.com

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Ayutthaya
Wat Na Phra Meru, Ayutthaya

Phuket Krabi Trang Vegetarian Festival

Phuket Vegetariuan Festival
Date  :  17 - 26 October, 2009
Venue :  Various Chinese shrines, Phuket

The Thai-Chinese in Phuket have long passed on the vegetarian festival to purify mind and soul by refraining from meat consumption and meditating. Symbolising the presence of the deities throughout the festival are 9 lanterns lit up and placed aloft on Ko Teng poles. On the 6th day of the festival, there will be religious processions and incredible displays of face-and-body piercing. On the last day, there will be a “Koi Han” ceremony to exorcize ill fortune and a farewell ceremony for the deities at night.
credit :  tourismthailand.org

Krabi Vegetarian Festival
Date   :   18 -26 October, 2009
Krabi Vegetarian Festival Join the annual meritorious festival. Observe religious precepts and eat vegetables for 9 consective day and nights

Observe the local beliefs of the people as displayed in the procession to 40 shrines to request for good luck for Krabi city on 21 October 2009 as from 12.00-17.00 hrs.
at Krabi City pilar Shrine (In front of Kribi provincial Hall)
For more infomation: Contact Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Krabi Office Tel. 0 7562 2163 Fax. 0 7562 2164 E-mail: tatkrabi@tat.or.th

Trang Vegetarian Festival
Date  :  17 - 26 October, 2009
Vegetarian Festival is a traditional festival of the Chinese in Trang, held around October every year on a full-moon night. Thais of Chinese heritage would become a vegetarian (no consumption of meat and certain kinds of vegetables) and dress in white for 9 days and nights. This is to bring good fortune and make merit. Throughout the 9 days and nights, the spirit in the “medium” would go out and give blessing (some call it out touring) to households where there are offerings set out in front. The procession bearing the medium must light thousands of firecrackers, creating a deafening din. The medium would also perform supernatural feats to show that the spirit is in him
credit  :  trangzone.com

Prasat Phanom Rung, Narai Lintel, Buriram Province

Buriram is a land of ancient Khmer prosperity. The southern part of the province has a number of Khmer sanctuaries, the most magnificent being Phanom Rung, regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of Khmer architecture in Thailand.

Buriram is 410 kilometres from Bangkok. It has an area of 10,321 square kilometres.

Phanom Rung Historical Park This is a grand and majestic Khmer site over a thousand years old. Built on an extinct volcano, it is originally a Hindu religious site and later became a Buddhist one. During the 15th-18th Buddhist century, several additions were made.The first thing visitors see when they arrive at the site is the grand stairway from the foot of the hill up to the top. Most of the buildings of the sanctuary are made of laterite and sandstone, all with elaborate designs. The buildings are lined all the way to the main pagoda. This layout is according to Hindu belief of the layout of the heaven of the god Shiva.

The main pagoda is a large one with a square base and facing east. The designs on the pagoda, columns, doorway, and lintels are exquisite, most telling a story of gods in Hinduism. From these designs and the architecture, it is surmised that the pagoda, the stairway and the Naga bridge were built during the 17th Buddhist century. Each building has descriptive designs telling people the purpose for its construction, its usefulness and the beliefs of ancient people.

Prasat Phanom Rung

Thap Lang Narai Banthomsin (Narai Lintel),a carved stone piece on top of the prasat's door which was returned from the United States in 1988.

Mueang Tam Stone Sanctuary (Prasat Mueang Tam), Buriram Province

This stone sanctuary can be reached by taking the road to Prakhon Chai for 8 kilometres and another 5 kilometres on a road on the right-hand side. This Khmer site has a square layout. Its main structures are 5 brick pagodas built on the same foundation and enclosed by two walls. The 4 doorways are perpendicular to each other and built of sandstone with beautiful designs. The inner wall is made of sandstone and is one long, narrow continuous corridor, called Rabiang Khot. The outer wall is made of laterite. Lintels adorn doorways and the main pagoda, recounting Hindu tales. Another highlight of the site is the 4 large pools between the walls. The edges of the pools have serpent designs with the

Silk making villages, in Na Pho district.  This is a major centre of quality silk making, especially Pha Mat Mi.  It is supported by Her Majesty the Queen's arts and culture foundation.

Credit : tourismthailand.org