Nakhon Phanom Illuminated boats procession festival
Another October festival in Thailand, the procession of illuminated boats to Nakhon Phanom will take place, this year, from October 17 to 25, 2018, the flagship event taking place on the 24th. Here, the essentials of what you need to know about this festival in Thailand and its program.
Illuminated Boats Procession Festival
Be careful, do not confuse Nakhon Phanom where this festival takes place and which is located in the Northeast of the Country, a region also called “Isan” with Nakhon Pathom near Bangkok.
The procession of illuminated boats or Lai Ruea Fai in Thai is a Northeast tradition that has been practiced for centuries to mark the end of Buddhist Lent (Ok Phansa). Legend has it that the Buddha spent the entire period of Buddhist Lent in paradise and then returned to Earth.
The procession of illuminated boats is organized to welcome him back to earth after Buddhist Lent. The locals also believe that this ceremony washes the sadness and problems of life while bringing luck to the participants. The tradition of the festival dates back to ancient times. It is held from the full moon day to the 1st day of the waning moon of the 11th lunar month, Always held on October in every year, along 9 days.
The highlight is the procession of illuminated boats on the Mekong river along Sunthornvichit Road for 4 kilometers.
In the past, Local people of Nakhon Phanom gather together with Buddhist monks from each village temple to spectacularly decorate the boats and rafts weeks before the festival takes place.The boat made of the trunk of a banana tree or bamboo, 5-10 Meters long. They then load them with food, flowers, incense sticks, candles and handmade lanterns. Once lit, these illuminated boats are then launched creating a spectacular visual spectacle as they float down the legendary Mekong River.
Nowsday, the boat is made of bamboo, built to be larger and much more extravagant, 50-90 Meters long. And it impressively illuminates the river during the festival. Made by local people from 12 districts in Nakhonphanom. They Start building the boat at the beginning of October, take 3 weeks for building at the bank of Mekong River. So, tourists can come to join and see the process of building all along the month.
It has already started, as shown in one of the photos sent to me by Nakhon Pathom’s TAT this morning.
Festival Schedule
This year the festival will be held from 17 to 25th October 2018. But it is the end of the festival and especially the last 2 days which are the most interesting.
- 17 – 23 October at 6 pm: sound and light show with 3 illuminated boats in front of City Hall
- 20 – 23 October 2018: traditional boat races at Wat Phra In Plaeng
- 24 October 2018 (Ok Phansa, end of Buddhist Lent) at 8am: Buddhist ceremony at Wat Phra That Phanom with dances by 7 ethnic groups
- 24 October 2018 at 7 pm: procession of 12 illuminated boats on the Mekong River along Sunthornvichit Road (the highlight of the festival)
- 25 October at 6:30 am: Tak Bat Devo, offerings to the monks at the Naga Monument
And during the festival, a Walking Street offering food, beverages and live music will also take place every night.
Next year’s Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Festival will take place 6 – 14 October 2019.
How to get to Nakhon Phanom?
To get to Nakhon Phanom (in Isan near the border with Laos), here you will find bus timetables Bangkok – Nakhon Phanom. It takes 10 to 12 hours to get there by bus. Otherwise Nok Air offers 2 flights per day from Bangkok.
For more information, please contact Nakhon Phanom’s Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at 043 227 714
