Until Oct 4, the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat is hosting its annual Buddhist festival -- "The Tenth Lunar Month Festival of Muang Nakhon", or Bun Duan Sib -- at Somdej Phra Srinagarindra 84 Park (Thung Talat Park) and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Held for the first time in 1923, the event originates from local belief that the ancestors' spirits will be released temporarily from the world after death between the 1st and the 15th day of the waning moon in the 10th lunar month. Therefore, people make merit by giving food to monks and dedicate the merit to the dead. Some of the offerings presented to the spirits through a sacred ritual represent basic necessities, such as khanom la for clothes and khanom deesum for money. Locals begin preparations three days before the 15th day -- shopping day, preparation day and merit-making day when the spirits return to the underworld.
Highlights of the festival are a procession of the offerings on the 15th day, which is Sept 30 this year. Other activities include entertainment, a nang talung shadow play competition, retro costume and poetry contests and the Miss Nakhon Si Thammarat beauty contest.
According to legend, King Srithammasokkaraj I found a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha buried by Queen Hemachala and Prince Shanthakumaran, on Hat Sai Kaew.
He founded the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and built a Srivijaya-style pagoda in 555AD to enshrine the relic. Later, following his victory over Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in 1247, King Srithammasokkaraj V had the pagoda rebuilt in Lankan-style -- in the shape of a bell with golden top, surrounded by 158 small pagodas.
Call the Tourism Authority of Thailand office in Nakhon Si Thammarat on 075-346-515/6 or the TAT Contact Centre on 1672.
