This is certainly a ceremony NOT for the squeamish - I would like to see it.
This ceremony is at Mae Hia - a tambon in Muaeng Chiang Mai - and is named after 2 cannibalistic brothers whose spirits guarded Chiang Mai. Lawa and Northern Thai Legend tells us that the Lord Buddah persuaded (how I don't know) to give up being cannibals and the brothers agreed but for one day in the year they ate raw buffalo flesh once a year.
The ceremony is a mix of Shamanism and Buddhism and the medium involved speaks the words of the spirit Pu Sae and Ya Sea. In Chiang Mai a buffalo is ritually sacrificed and eaten by the medium. The information I have read about indicates that the innards are cooked and the medium sits on the buffalo carcass smoking and drinking. Other information indicates that it is cooked.........
This is certainly one that I have never visited and maybe it will help me eat more fruit. The Rayong Funkky (not a spelling mistake) Fruit Festival.
The Star Fruit is the local product of Rayong and there is a long tradition in agriculture here. What makes this event a bit different? is that it mixes fruit with - poetry readings, musical performances and music..... i thought of trying to work in 'smoothies' here but was unable.
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