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Fireboat Festival
Marking the end of the Buddhist Lenten period, the “Lai Rua Fai” Festival (‘Fireboat’), is celebrated in Nakorn Phanom in early October. The climax of this dazzling event is on the final night. Dusk on the Mekong and over a dozen unusual vessels with bamboo superstructures lumber into the river. Night falls, camouflaging the platoon of spider-men who light tens of thousands of small lanterns hung to result in a “Portrait in Fire” that can be seen for miles. The local citizenry judge the designs, which vary in shape & form, reflecting indigenous cultural identity and following mythical & Buddhist motifs for “Best Fireboat”. Nakorn Phanom town is off the beaten tack and this festival so be sure to make travel arrangement well in advance.
Loi Kratong
Tides are highest and the moon brightest on the 1st full moon of the 12th lunar month (but celebrations begin a day before). Millions of Thais congregate near canals & rivers across the Kingdom to make wishes and resolutions for the coming twelve months. This is a time after the monsoon rains - the land has been renewed. To pay tribute & thanks to the ‘Mother of the Waters’, Thais fashion a small cup from banana-leaf to hold symbolic items (betel nuts, food, flowers, joss sticks, coins) and a burning candle. With ancient origins in Buddhism, Hinduism and Animism, this important festival is fun and is happening everywhere - from the traditional cultures along the Mekong to the urban Bangkok scene, where the candles of thousands of ‘kratongs’ on a river is a spectacle to behold.
Surin Elephant Round Up
Taking place on the 3rd weekend of November, Surin is the home of the Kui tribal people. Hundreds of elephants and thousands of performers come from far and wide to participate in Surin’s Annual Elephant Round Up. The town is thick with elephants and a festival atmosphere prevails, both inside and outside the official venue. This is not a staged event, but reflects the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and is governed by ancient local traditions. Dates are unlikely to change, but to ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
Thai New Year (Songkran) Water is the predominant theme during Thai New Year, or “Songkran”, celebrated annually on the 13th of April; a landmark festival time for Thai popular Buddhism, when everyone takes a break and the Kingdom celebrates. On the surface, contemporary Songkran celebrations may seem to consist mainly of drenching-by-bucket or squirt-gun, and getting soaked with water. Prepare for that by putting wallets, cameras, phones etc in plastic bags, and enjoy it if you get soaked! Traditionally, Songkran is a time of symbolic renewal, ‘merit making’, and ritual cleansing, characterized by gentle water splashing, which is less noticeable but more widespread. Travelling at this time guarantees an up-close and personal Songkran experience.
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