Thai Martial Arts Festival (15-17 March)

www.jasonelias.com

The TAT has organized this event inorder to preserve Thai Martial Arts as a means of self-defence NOT simply a way of attacking somebody in the way that Muay Thai is potrayed in the West and as a tribute to Nai Khanom Tom who is a highly regarded Muay Thai Folk Hero.

The Wai Kru Muay Thai is a means of respecting ones opponent and is performed before every traditional Muay Thai fight - I digress and wonder if all the 'Western fighters' understand the actions that they 'perform' before each contest...

  

Lamduan Flower Festival (11-13 March)

There are some cream-coloured flowers (of the White Cheesewood Tree) which come into bloom In March every year and this is where to come to see these beautiful flowers and smell their fragrant scent - about 50,000 of them in the Princess Mother Memorial Park in the Sai Ket Provinical Centre.

 

Barred Dove Ground Singing 5th-6th March

Dove-lovers from all over Thailand, as well as from other countries in the region like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, come to Yala for this event. 

The highlight is a dove-cooing contest involving more than 1,400 competitors; young prize doves are on sale along with local products, and sports contests are held.

Bun Phawet Merit Making Fair 4th of March

The Boon Pawet fair is a merit-making ceremony that reflects the Buddhist belief in reincarnation. When one life ends, the soul enters another body to be born again. Prior to his life as Buddha, in one of his past lives, the Buddha-to-be (Bodhisattva) was re-born as Prince Vessandara, an episode noted as the last great incarnation before attaining Enlightenment. Hence, an occasion for Buddhist celebration.

Isan Grand Kite Tradition - 5th December

Just go this one from Amazing Thailand facebook.


"After harvesting the crop at the beginning of December, the Grand Kite Festival is held. Every village will create kites and bring them to the competition. The contestants’ kites must have wings at least 2.5 meters wide. The winning kite is the best decorated one with good sound of the flight and the movement of the flight. There are kite parade, beauty pageant with the candidates from all over the region as well as local product stalls."

info from http://www.sawadee.co.th

The Naga Fireballs and the Phayanak Festival

The Naga Fireballs - a fabulous phenomenon which takes place yearly - do I understand it or believe it - NO, but what the heck.


During October this can be witnessed - or simply viewed on youtube.


I read that the Naga is a giant hooded snake and it spits glowing fireballs - the Phayanak festival - simply put it is the welcoming of the Lord Buddah as he returns to Eath at the end of Buddhist Lent - simple!


Then Science comes along and explains it all - something to do with flammable phosphine gas.

A Sart Thar Traditions and Banana Festival - 8th October

I smiled when I read this and thought - 'only in this beautiful place called Thailand'.


Found a beautiful site about this so have linked it to this below.

Kamphaeng Phet Province, Sart Thai Tradition & Banana Festival

 

Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival - 29 Sept

I could find very little about this but I believe that it is a competition 

to carve the Wax candles....

Hin Pheung Rafting Festival of Khao Yai National Park - 24th July

Here's a link for you

Found this one a little late but it does look like fun - enjoy.

Shiva Lung - Ghost Festival

This is text written by Kevin O'Sheehan from a beautiful Asian Photo website.


The Shiva LungIn the Ghost festival, in Loei, the presence of the Shiva lung, or the representation of the male penis is omnipresent. Many of the dancers carry it as the 'krador'. Traditionally it represents the penis of the Lord Shiva, the source of all fertility for Hindus. This Hindu custom survives in all of these pre-monsoon fertility festivals of North-Eastern Thailand. Many of the 'kradors' are hinged with a trigger device, like this one, so they can be made to twitch in a most suggestive way during the dancing. In this culture such things are not objects of fear or prudery as they might be elsewhere.