Thailand Festivals
 
 
 
 

Festivals in Thailand 2012

The colourful festivals of Songkran and Loy Krathong are well-known to tourists. However, Thailand has many more unique festivals that are not always found in guide books. Please contact us with news about your event.

Hae Pha Khuen That Festival: 13-15 February 2012
Wednesday, 11 January 2012 23:58



 

The Hae Pha Kuen That ritual is unique to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Holy cloth, known as Phra bot, is draped around the stupa in a merit-making ritual.

The custom reflects a form of communal merit-making designed to strengthen community spirit and foster unity and has been diligently observed for some 800 years. According to Buddhist belief, participation in communal merit-making earns an individual more merit.

The International Makha Bucha Hae Pha Khuen That Festival and the ritual draping of the holy cloth will be held at Si Thammasokarat Park and Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat during February 12-18.

Makha Bucha Day (Māgha Pūjā in Pali) commemorates two separate events that occurred on the same date 45 years apart, during the Buddha's lifetime 2,500 years ago. The first event was the coming together of 1,250 monks from all locations and directions, to meet and be ordained by the Buddha. This event occurred seven months after the Buddha began his teaching. The second event, which occurred 45 years later, was the Buddha delivering his teachings shortly before his death. Both of these events occurred on the day of the full moon of the third lunar month, a month known in the Buddhist Pali language as 'Makha'. The 'Bucha', also a Pali word, means to venerate or to honour. Thus, Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Lord Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month.

Several countries have been invited to participate in this year’s festival in an effort to promote cross-border religious tourism. These include Sri Lanka, India, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan.


The following four destinations have been designed as pilgrimage cities.

The four sacred Buddhist sites in India
Anuradhapura and Pollonaruwa in Sri Lanka
Shwedagon pagoda in Myanmar
Phra Borom That stupa in Nakhon Si Thammarat

The festival aims to promote Buddhist customs and traditions to tourists so that they not only share in the cultural experience but also gain knowledge and insight.

 

ACTIVITIES

Tracing religious doctrine to the Land of Buddhism
Sermon by Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramehdi (W.Vajiramehdi)
Worship of the Phra bot holy cloths depicting tales of the life of the Lord Buddha
Procession of the Phra bot holy cloth representing the four regions of Thailand and those from the participating countries
Cooking of Madhupayat rice and ceremony


PROGRAMME

Everyday activities
16.00 - 21.00 hrs
Exhibition of the gold Phra bot cloth and the big Phra bot cloth from Suan Mokkh, the Garden of Liberation
Launch of sky lanterns representing the twelve animal constellations
Ancient market of local dessert and food
Demonstration of Phra bot cloth painting
Traditional performances
Street car tour of the religious route with guide
Historical route tour
Museums route tour
Exhibition of Buddha Puja artwork by the Thai Artist Group
Special Activities
12 February 2011
The sermon at Si Thammasokarat Park with
Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramehdi (W.Vajiramehdi)
18.30 hrs Enjoy the Si Thammasokarat Mini Light-and-Sound performance
19.00 hrs Dharma declamation with renowned monk Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramehdi (aka W. Vajiramehdi)
13 February 2011
Buddha Puja at the OTOP Center, Si Thammasokarat Park
9.00 - 16.00 hrs

International Phra bot seminar
19.00 hrs Cultural performance of the four Thai regions by students from Rajabhat University of Chiang Mai, Roi Et, Thepsatri and Nakhon Si Thammarat
14 February 2011
The day of love at Si Thammasokarat Park
19.00 - 20.00 hrs

The students debate for “Invite your beloved to the temple on
Makha Bucha Day”
20.00 hrs Dharma discussion by Thai actors and actresses
“Invite your beloved to the temple on Makha Bucha Day” activities
21.00 hrs Khon Performance between Nakhon Si Thammarat Dramatic Arts College and Phatthalung Dramatic Arts College
15 February 2011
Merit of praying
17.00 hrs

The celebration of the Phra bot cloth
19.00 hrs Khon Performance between Nakhon Si Thammarat Dramatic Arts College and Phatthalung Dramatic Arts College
16 February 2011
Merit of cooking at Si Thammasokarat Park
17.00 hrs

The celebration of the Phra bot Cloth
17.30 hrs The cooking ceremony of ‘Mathupayasyaku’ rice (porridge made of boiled rice, sugar and honey)

19.00 hrs

 Si Thammasokarat Mini Light-and-Sound performance
17 February 2011
Almighty Buddha at Si Thammasokarat Park
Phra bot procession to Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan by the various regions of Thailand
13.00 hrs Receiving ceremony of the royal Phra bot Cloth from Pak Phanang District
17.30 hrs

Coronation ceremony of the royal Phra bot Cloth, international Phra bot cloths, and Phra bot cloths from the public and private sectors by 8 famous monks

Liturgy by Thai and foreign monks
19.00 hrs International performance from Sri Lanka, India, China and Japan
21.00 hrs Si Thammasokarat Mini Light-and-Sound performance

 
18 February 2011
Colorful faith at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
6.00 hrs Merit-making ceremony to present food offerings to the Buddhist monks
15.00 hrs Closing ceremony
16.00 hrs

International Phra bot procession to Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan

International performance from Sri Lanka, India, China and Thailand
16.30 hrs The Phra bot Cloth offering ceremony
17.00 hrs Sermons and Makha Bucha triple circumambulation

The festival is being jointly organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, Suansangsun Nakhon-Bauwornrat and Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives.

Contact information:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Nakhon Si Thammarat Office
Tel: +66 (0) 7534 6515-6
Fax: +66 (0) 7534 6517
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 
Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 January 2012 23:58
 

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