Festivals at Nakhon Phanom in Thailand.

Phrathat Phanom Fair : The annual celebration is scheduled to be held from the 10th day of the waxing moon to the 1st day of the waning moon of the 3rd lunar month. It is an important celebration for the people of Nakhon Phanom and nearby provinces.


Illuminated Boat Procession (Huea Fai) : Held from the full moon day to the 1st day of the waning moon of the 11th lunar month, the procession always illuminates the Mekong River in front of the city hall. The dazzling procession is held to welcome the Lord Buddha back to Earth after preaching to his mother in heaven during the three-month period of Buddhist Lent.



As part of the inherited tradition, the illuminated boat procession is among the numerous offerings to the Lord Buddha. The celebration has been handed down since ancient times. In the past, the illuminated boats were 10-12 metre long rafts made of a banana trunk or bamboo.



The raft was loaded with desserts, offerings, flowers, joss sticks, with candles and lamps to illuminate it before being launched onto the river. Today, the boat is built to be larger and much more extravagant. And it impressively illuminates the river during the festival.


Boat Races (Suang Huea) : The old tradition is held annually at the end of Buddhist Lent. It is quite successful to strengthen the harmony and relationship between the Thai and Laotian people along the Mekong River. The 3-km races take place on the Mekong River, in front of the Nakhon Phanom Embankment. The races are quite exciting as strong currents make them more difficult.


‘Saek Ten Sak’ Tradition : The ‘Pestle Dance” belongs to the Saek ethnic group in At Samat Village, 4 km. from Nakhon Phanom. The dance is performed annually on the 3rd day of the waxing moon of the 3rd lunar month to please the spirit.



If the dance is to be performed in another period, the spiritual leader will have to ask for permission by offering a pig’s head, 20-baht cash, and liquor, then pick up a predictive coloured stick. If the leader picks up a stick of the same colour, that means the spirit does not allow. The dancers will perform to the fast rhythm of drums and striking pestles painted in red and white.



‘So Thang Bang’ Tradition : The ‘So’ ethnic group, both men and women, perform this traditional dance in the funeral to send the soul of the deceased to heaven. The ‘So’, who speak their own language which sounds like Mon and Khmer, settled down in Amphoe Tha Uthen, Amphoe Na Kae, and Amphoe Si Songkhram.



Phu Thai Dance : The dance of the ‘Phu Thai’ ethnic group is performed in festivals during the 5th and 6th lunar months. Although the dancers do not perform synchronically, the dance entertains the audience with beautiful postures from the dancing couples, male and female.