Tungkula Festival

Pee Ta Khon (the Ghost Festival)

2007-11-28T04:49:00.000-08:00

Pee Ta Khon (the Ghost Festival) is the most common name for a group of festivals held in Dan Sai, Loei province, Isan, Thailand. The events take place over three days some time between March and July, the dates being selected annually by the town’s mediums.
The whole event is called Bun Luang. It is composed of a number of individual festivals: Pee Ta Khon, the Ghost Festival; the Rocket Festival; and Bun Pra Wate, a merit-making ceremony normally held in March.
The first day is the Ghost Festival itself; it is also called Wan Ruam (assembly day). The town’s residents invite protection from Phra U-pakut, the spirit of the Mun river. They then hold a series of games and take part in a procession wearing masks made of rice husks or coconut leaves with hats made from rice steamers, plus patchwork clothing. They also wear bells and wave wooden phalluses. The origins of this part of the festival are traditionally ascribed to a Jataka story in which the Buddha made a long journey and was presumed dead. The celebrations on his return were so raucous as to wake the dead.
The second day of the festival incorporates elements of the Rocket Festival, plus various costume and dance contests and more parades.
On the third and final day, the villagers listen to sermons.

Phadaeng, Nang Ai and Phangkhi

2007-11-28T03:44:00.001-08:00

Phadaeng and Nang Ai
Nang Ai (Thai: นางไอ่) , in full, Nang Ai Kham (Thai: นางไอ่คำ) is queen of the pageant and Phadaeng (Thai: ผาแดง), her champion. She, the genuine article, has been reborn as the most beautiful girl. An outsider, he comes to see for himself, lavishes her with gifts and wins her heart, but must win a rocket festival tourney to win Nang Ai's hand. He also unwittingly becomes part of a love triangle.
Phangkhi
Nang Ai and Phangkhi have been fated by their Karma (TH:กรรม kam) to have been reborn throughout many past existences as a couple ordained (TH: คู่สร้าง Khusang); Lao-Isan says such a couple has a sai naen nam kiaw (TH:สายแนนนำเกี่ยว), a tie that binds tight. Stories about the couple, however, say they have not exactly been lovers; in many a past existence, she has been a dutiful wife, but would not yield an inch in an argument to anyone (TH:ไม่ยอมใคร mai yom krai); he only wanted to satisfy himself (TH: เอาแต่ใจคัวเอง ow tae jai tua eng); until she becomes fed up ,and prays never to be paired to him, ever again. Phangki, reborn as the Grand Naga king's son, is depicted in parades as riding alone, dogging the new pair.
Phadaeng fails to get it up at the tourney; then, due to complications arising from Nang Ai and Phangkhi's past relationships, war erupts with the Nagas. Nagas run amok are rivers in spate and all Isan is flooded. Receding waters leave behind Nong Han Kumphawapi Lake of the Kumphawapi District marsh, which may be seen to this very day.
The legend is retold in many regional variations, all of which are equally true for they relate events in different existences. One 3000-word poem translated to English[6] from this rich Thai-Isan tradition, "…is especially well known to the Thai audience, having been designated as secondary school supplementary reading by the Thai Ministry of Education, with publication in 1978. There is even a Thai popular song about the leading characters." Diller, Anthony. Review of: Wajuppa Tossa, Phadaeng Nang Ai. The origina was written in a Lao-Isan verse called Khong saan, replete with sexual innuendo, puns, and double entendre.
Keyes (op. cit., p. 67, citing George Coedès [7]) p. 48, says "Phra Daeng Nang Ai" is a version of the myth of an Indian Brahman by the name of Kaundinya, legendary founder of Funan, and Soma, the daughter of the king of the Nāga.

Bang Fai (the rockets) in Yasothon

2007-11-26T22:43:00.000-08:00

Bang Fai (the rockets)
Rocket on ascent.
Two rockets being prepared for launch.
Jaruat (Thai: จรวด) is the proper term for rockets used as missiles or weapons, but Bang Fai (Thai: บั้งไฟ) skyrockets are gigantic black-powder bottle rockets. Tiny Bottle rockets are so called because they may be launched from a bottle. In the case of the similar appearing Bang Fai, also spelled 'Bong Fai' (Thai: บ้องไฟ), the 'bottle' is a bong (Thai: บ้อง), a section of bamboo culm used as a container or pipe (and only colloquially as a pipe for smoking marijuana.) Bangfai Noi showing bong interior Related to the Chinese Fire Arrow, Bang Fai are made from bamboo bongs. Most contemporary ones, however, are enclosed in pvc piping, making them less dangerous by standardizing their sizes and black powder charges (which contest rules require be compounded by the rocketeers, themselves). Baking or boiling a bong kills insect eggs that otherwise hatch in dead bamboo and eat it, inside out. Skipping this step may cause the bong to disintegrate and melt the pvc piping. Vines tie long bamboo tails to launching racks. The time it takes for the exhaust to burn through the vines (usually) allows a motor to build up to full thrust; then the tails impart in-flight stability. Ignition comes from a burning fuse or electric match.
Bang Fai come in various sizes, competing in several categories. Small ones are called Bang Fai Noi (Thai: น้อย). Increasing sizes are categories are designated by the counting words for 10,000, 100,000 and 1,000,000: Meun (Thai: หมื่น) "Saen" (Thai: แสน) and the largest Bang Fai, the Lan (Thai: ล้าน). These counting words see use in many contexts to indicate increasing size or value. Lan in this context may be taken to mean extremely large as well as extremely expensive and extremely dangerous: Bang Fai Lan are nine metres long and charged with 120 kg of black powder. These may reach altitudes reckoned in kilometers, and travel dozens of kilometers down range (loosely speaking, as they can go in any direction, including right through the crowd). Competing rockets are scored for apparent height, distance, and beauty of the vapor trail (Thai: ไอ). A few include skyrocket pyrotechnics. A few also include parachutes for tail assemblies, but most fall where they may.

Surin Elephant Round-up & Red Cross Fair 2007

2007-11-26T20:11:00.000-08:00

The people of Surin have long been renowned for their skill in capturing and training wild of Surin have long been renowned for their skill in capturing and training wild elephants and the round-up.The most popular of Northeastern festivals with foreign tourists is the Surin Elephant Round-up which is held annually in November.In the past wild elephants lived in the forest areas of nearby Cambodia. Unfortunately, these areas have been inaccessible due to civil war in Cambodia, and at the same time, the elephant population is markedly decreasing thus the elephant catchers must now make a living by taking their charges around the country giving shows.The greatest event of the Surin round-up is a beautifully organized display of the talents and abilities of these superb beasts.The round-up in those days was an annual state ceremony presided over by the ding himself. There were prayers and citations devised for the ceremony and for the taming of captured elephants afterwards. In recent times, the event has been revived and has vecome a major tourist attraction for the country, with the province of Surin as the main centre of activities.