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| PHETCHABUN |
Situated right in the heart of the country some 346 kilometres
from Bangkok, Phetchabun borders on three regions, the
North, the Central and the Northeast. The central part
of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain
ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors.
Because of the fertility of the land, Phetchabun has always
been an agriculturally productive area. The very name
of the province actually means the land of crops and foods.
Today, Phetchabun is a province with
rich tourism potential. Its climate is pleasant due
to the mountainous and forested areas and it has a history
of richness and prosperity for more than 1,400 years.
As and Sukhothai styles have been discovered. Phetchabun
is administratively divided into the following districts:
Muang, Lom Sak, Lom Kao, Chon Daen, Nong Phai, Wichian
Buri, Si Thep, Bung Sam Phan, Wang Pong, Nam Nao and
Khao Kho.
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 Sweet
Tamarind Day Sweet tamarind is grown mostly in Phetchabun.
Sweet Tamarind Day is thus organised in Phetchabun to
celebrate the harvest of this fruit. This day is also
called Phetchabun’s Agricultural Day. During the festival,
farmers bring their sweet tamarind to sell at reasonable
price at Phetchabun’s provincial athletic field where
contests of sweet tamarind and other crops are held.
Besides this, there are other agricultural exhibitions
and entertainment organised during the event.
The Bathing of Phra Buddha Mahadhamaracha
Festival or Um Phra Dam Nam Ceremony This event
is annually held on the fifteenth day of the waning
moon in the 10th lunar month or during the Sat Thai
period, in September. Phra Buddha Mahadhamaracha is
a highly revered ancient Buddha image of Phetchabun.
The image was found in the Pasak River by a group of
farmers four hundred years ago and it was then taken
to be housed in Wat Trai Phum. According to a legend,
the Buddha image was disappeared twice from the temple
and was later found in water. It was said that the Buddha
image itself had wandered out of the temple. Therefore,
the ritual bathing ceremony is held. The ceremony starts
at 1 p.m. The image is carried around town and put under
a tent in Wat Trai Phum, so Buddhists can pay respect
to it and stick gold leaf on its body. In the evening,
prayers are chanted. At night, there are various kinds
of entertainment. The next morning, people make merit
as it is Sat Thai Day. Foods, including Krayasat, and
other necessities are given to monks. The Buddha image
is then taken to be immersed in the Pasak River by the
governor of Phetchabun and traditional dances are performed
to show respect to it. After the ceremony, the water
in the river is regarded as sacred. As a result, plople
swim in it or take the water to drink before the boat
racing begins.
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