 Poi
Sang Long Procession is in fact the celebration of
novice ordination which the Thai Yai tribe people hold
to be a highly meritorious occasion. Traditionally, the
candidate-novice, his head cleanly shaven and wrapped
with head-cloth in the Burmese style, will don a prince-like
garment and put on valuable jewels and gems, and ride
a horse or be carried over the shoulders of a man to the
city shrine. On the ordination eve, a procession of offerings
and other necessary personal belongings will be paraded
through the town streets and then placed at the monastery
where the ordination will take place the next day. It
is usually held during March-May before the Buddhist Rain
Retreat period.
Chong Phara Procession The
Chong Phara in the Thai Yai dialect means a castle made
of wood, covered with colourful perforated papers and
decorated with fruits, flags and lamps. It is placed
in the courtyard of a house or a monastery as a gesture
to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return from giving
sermons to his mother in heaven, according to traditional
belief. Other activities to celebrate the occasion include
dances where performers are dressed in animal costumes.
The rite is held during the post rain retreat season
from the full-moon day of the 11 the Lunar month (around
October) to the waxing moon night of the same month.
Bua Tong Blossom Festival Each
year in November, the hillsides of Khun Yuam and Mae
Sariang districts are filled with a host of golden Bua
Tong Blooms. As gay as a daisy and almost as large as
a sunflower, the Bua Tong only blossoms for a month.
At Doi Mae U-Kho, the blossoms appear
profusely. Finally, the golden blooms become part of
the scene. Some specialists have classified these Bua
Tong as weeds and because of this, they may be cleared
to make way for cash crops. Fortunately a group of researchers
have discovered the flower’s insect-repellent properties.
And perhaps that is why the Bua Tong, a symbol of Mae
Hong Son, is still preserved on the hillsides.
Loi Krathong Festival Loi
Krathong Festival is held on the full moon night in
the month of November every year. Villagers make “krathongs”
to float in rivers. At Nong Chong Kham, various entertainments
and a contest of large krathongs are held near the central
pond. Lamps and candles are lit all around the area.
Moreover, at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, there is a ceremony
of releasing candle-lit krathongs bound with balloons
to the sky (known as “Loi Krathong Sawan”).
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