Some Major Events & Festivals Related to Animals |
Getting to know a variety of them
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There are numerous events and festivals in Thailand that are related to animals, those relating to elephants being especially abundant. This is because elephants and the Thais have maintained a close relationship since ancient times. Many of the creatures are domesticated generally in the north and northeastern regions of Thailand. However, events and festivals related to other kinds of animals are no less interesting. In this issue, Thaiways presents to you brief descriptions about 13 major events and festivals related to animals. Each festival is presented in order of date of its happening.
1. Thailand Milk Cow Fair
Date: January Venue: The Dairy Farming Promotion Organisation of Thailand (D.P.O.), Saraburi Province (107 km north of Bangkok)
At the fair, in addition to several categories of cow contests, you can also observe a demonstration of dairy product processing and exhibitions about dairy farming. Moreover, dairy and local products are on sale at very reasonable prices.
The annual Milk Cow Fair is held to show appreciation to King Bhumibol's far-sightedness in establishing dairy farming in Thailand. The fair also shows the progress of dairy farming in this country.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Lop Buri Office) on tel: 0 3642 2768-9.
2.Chai Nat Straw Birds Fair & Red Cross Fair
Date: February Venue: In front of Chai Nat Administration Hall, Chai Nat Province (194 km north of Bangkok)
At the fair, tourists will witness the fantastically decorated floats of large, brightly coloured straw birds, which will join in a contest later. They look so real and their gigantic size looks awesome. There will be many other activities like folk performances and exhibitions. You can also enjoy shopping several 5-star local products and foods. Many more entertainment programmes will help make you have a good time. In addition, Chai Nat Bird Park, situated nearby keeping more than 100 species of birds & fishes, is worth visiting.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Suphan Buri Office) on tel: 0 3553 6030.
3. Wedding on Elephant Back
Date: 14 February Venue: Elephant Study Centre, Surin Province (457 km northeast of Bangkok)
The couples getting married in this style will go through the "sat-te" ceremony which is the traditional wedding ceremony of the Kui people. The Kui refers to the descendants of the Mon-Khmer people mostly living in Surin. On the wedding day, the brides and grooms will be traditionally dressed. The brides wear a crown made of palm leaf while the grooms wear a three-coloured auspicious rope.
Before the "sat-te" ceremony begins, the elephant processions of the brides will first arrive at the precinct. Then, the majestic elephant procession of the grooms will reach the ritual ground to start the engagement and wedding procedures. After that, the couples will continue performing the "sat-te" ceremony in cottages specially built. After finishing this stage, the couples will ride on elephants to register their marriages. The last stage is to joyfully feed the elephants.
For more information, please contact Surin Local Administrative Office on tel: 0 4451 1975, 0 4451 1599 or the TAT (Surin Office) on tel: 0 4451 4447-8.
4. King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament
Date: March Venue: Anantara Resort, Chiang Rai (785 km north of Bangkok)
Each year, this exciting game attracts competitors from various nations. In the latest event (2008), there were competitors from 15 countries.
It is a good opportunity for tourists to enjoy the sport as well as to be impressed by the elephants' intelligence. In addition, this is a charitable event since part of the profit will be given to Thailand National Elephant Institute situated in Lampang Province to provide medical care for sick elephants.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Chiang Rai Office) on tel: 0 5371 7433.
5. Elephant-Back Ordination of Ban Hat Siao Village
Date: April Venue: Ban Hat Siao Village, Sukhothai Province (427 km north of Bangkok)
This annual grand ordination ceremony features a procession of monks-or novices-to-be riding on elephant backs before being ordained. Each year, no less than 10 pairs of men and elephants join the ceremony. The young men about to be ordained will be colourfully dressed and put on elephant-back in procession that goes round the town. It is after the procession that the ritual ceremony takes place.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Sukhothai Office) on tel: 0 5561 6228-9.
6. Jumbo Queen Contest and Elephant Buffet Fair
Date: 1 May Venue: Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo, Nakhon Pathom Province (56 km on the outskirts of Bangkok)
This spectacular event takes place yearly on 1 May. It was first held in 1997 to co-celebrate the Elephant Buffet Fair in which more than 5,000 kg. of various kinds of fruits were provided for elephants. The Jumbo Queen of each year is engaged to the elephant preservation duty.
Visitors will enjoy themselves with elephant performances, a jumbo queen beauty contest, elephant buffets and other joyful entertainments.
For more information, please contact Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo on tel: 0 2284 1873, 0 2284 0273. |
7. Snake-bird Watching in Sa Kaeo
Date: May to July Venue: Phraprong Reservoir, Sa Kaeo Province (250 km east of Bangkok)
Phraprong Reservoir features various species of birds, especially Nok Ai Ngua or snake-birds which are a rare species of large water bird in Thailand. They have a distinctive and interesting way of catching fish. They dive into the water and use their beaks to spear fish for themselves. This is a rarely seen behaviour that you can witness in the reservoir.
Tourists can take a rafting trip in Phraprong Reservoir to enjoy the secluded atmosphere and watch birds of various species fishing. When tired, they can taste a wide variety of freshwater fish at any of the restaurants on the shore. Boats and rafts can be hired at the reservoir.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Nakhon Nayok Office) on tel: 0 3731 2282.
8.The Butterfly Watching Festival of Pang Sida National Park
Date: May to July Venue: Pang Sida National Park, Sa Kaeo Province (250 km east of Bangkok)
Apart from butterfly watching, a butterfly photo contest also helps to add colour to the event. Activities on the opening day include mini marathons, mountain bike racing and photo and travel exhibitions.
Butterfly watching, which is one of the eco-tourism activities, is popular among green tourists with a few reasons. Inexpensive equipment is one of them and another reason is that this activity is suitable for any time of the day. However, the morning is the best time to observe these flying insects closely because they are perching still on the leaves to get the warm morning sunshine before starting a new day.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Nakhon Nayok Office) on tel: 0 3731 2282.
9. The Ceremony of Monks Receiving Offerings on Elephant Back
Date: July Venue: In front of the provincial hall, Surin Province (457 km from Bangkok)
The ceremony of Monks Receiving Offerings on Elephant Back is outstanding because of the grandeur of the parades of about 80 elephants and numerous people participating in it. It annually takes place on Rains-Retreat Entry Day (around early July).
Each elephant, carrying one or two monks, will be controlled by a mahout who sits at the front. The mahout will lead it to the lay people who are waiting on the stands to present their offerings to the monks.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Surin Office) on tel: 0 4451 4447-8.
10. The Buffalo Racing Festival
Date: September Venue: In front of the City Hall, Chon Buri Province (81 km east of Bangkok)
If you enjoy horse races, why don't you go to see the unique Buffalo Racing Festival for a change? It is a spectacular festival in Thailand that is unknown to most foreigners and even some Thais, because of its inadequate promotion. But it is so exciting, joyful and unique that is really worth seeing.
At the fair, besides buffalo racing, there will be a buffalo health contest, a buffalo decoration contest, a beauty contest and a country-songs singing contest.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Pattaya Office) on tel: 0 3842 7667, 0 3842 8750.
11. Surin Elephant Round-up
Date: Late November Venue: Surin Elephant Show Stadium, Surin Province (457 km from Bangkok)
This world-renowned event is yearly held in Surin, a province known as home of elephants. The highlight is elephant round-up showing how to capture wild elephants and tame them for work. Another exciting item is a graceful elephant battle which is part of the elephant performances. After the show, visitors will have an opportunity to go sight-seeing around the town on elephant back.
For more information, please contact Surin Provincial Governor's Office on tel: 0 4451 2039, 0 4452 1358.
12. Lop Buri's Monkey Banquet
Date: Last Sunday of November Venue: Phra Prang Sam Yot Ancient Ruins, Lop Buri Province (153 km north of Bangkok)
Yearly at Phra Prang Sam Yot Ancient Ruins in the town of Lop Buri, on the last Sunday of November, a huge feast is provided for some 3,000 monkeys inhabiting there.
Lop Buri has long been well-known for a large number of monkeys living around the town. And it can be said that monkeys have always attracted tourists to the province, thus bringing in its prosperity. In 1988, a local hotelier initiated an idea of holding a feast in their honour.
The feast is amazingly arranged; some fruits and vegetables are set in platters and some are put in a pyramid shape. Huge blocks of coloured ice holding fruits inside are placed all over the grounds. Soft drinks are also prepared for these agile animals.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Lop Buri Office) on tel: 0 3642 2768-9.
13. Sa-tok Chang or Elephant Banquet
Date: First weekend of December Venue: Elephant Conservation Centre, Lampang Province (599 km north of Bangkok)
This banquet is for elephants and the food containers used in this event are called "sa-tok" which is a northern style footed tray. But for elephants, "sa-tok" are specially made to be very large (with a 5-metre diameter and a 3-metre height). Each sa-tok is loaded with various kinds of fruits and vegetables prepared for the lovely jumbos.
The fair begins with a parade of beautifully decorated elephants led by a group of men and women traditionally dressed. After the procession, it's time for elephant sports such as elephant obstacle race and a competition of elephant shooting ball. All these can make the audience laugh because of their loveliness. After the competitions are over, the jumbos will enjoy eating such a large meal.
For more information, please contact the TAT (Chiang Mai Office) on tel: 0 5324 8604.
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