Sukumol Kunplome (back row, 9th
right), former minister of culture, presides over the Rice Festival in Nong Yai.
Staff reporters
Area residents bid farewell to the year’s Songkran festivities with traditional
rice festivals and “Kong Khao” ceremonies in Naklua and Nong Yai.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome was the master of ceremonies at Lan Po Park in Naklua
as locals and tourists gathered for games, including slingshots, seaside
Muay-Thai, “little girls falling in water,” and oily post climbing.
A concert from leading Thai country music artist Yinglee Srijumpol, performing
the hit, “Kho Jai Laek Ber Thor” (Exchange heart for telephone number) and Sam
Samrai, singing his “Karuna Fung Hai Job” (Please listen till the end) capped
the evening.
Residents dressed as angels and fairies to parade around the neighborhood,
followed by a few dressed as devils to represent fear. Offerings of meat and
sweets were put out according to ancient traditions, made from the belief that
giving to the spirits without relatives will make merit and provide prosperity
for oneself and family.
At Nong Yai Temple, acting Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome and wife Sukumol
presided at the venue where people presented meat and dessert, placing small
portions in krathongs, lighting candles and incense, and singing to invite
famished ghosts to dine until full to prevent them from harming the city.
After a manic 10 days of Songkran water-fighting, the Kong Khao festival is a
polite, traditional way to herald the start of the Thai New Year. Thais believe
it will ward off evil spirits and the song, dance and good feelings will usher
in a year of prosperity and good luck.
People invite ghosts to dine until
they’re so full, they won’t disturb the peace.
Scary ghosts make the rounds.
Ready, aim, fire! Children enjoy
testing their aim with the slingshots, an ancient local game.
A beautiful angel showers flowers
down to humans while visiting earth.
A pretty angel visits from heaven
to bless humans during the Rice Festival.
Children cheer the adults climbing
the oily posts.
Bullseye!
Aaree Srimongkol takes aim at his
target.
The head angel comes down to
earth.
Yinglee Srichumpol and her dancers
bend over backwards to bring you the best entertainment whilst singing her hit
song “Kho Jai Laek Ber Thor” (Exchange heart for telephone number).
Yinglee Srichumpol sings ‘Ying
Lala’ (Ying having fun).
Champ Champrum’s lead guitarist
almost steals the show.
Angels take to the stage to bless
the humans after having visited earth.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (center)
presides over the opening of the Naklua Rice Festival at Lan Pho Public Park.
After the ceremony, families and
friends dine together.
Look out for this tough guy, who
boldly predicted, “I will win!”
Citizens cheering after the blue
boxer fell into the water.
If you hit the target, she will
fall into the water.
People have fun dancing during the
Rice Festival.
Ghosts are treated to delicious
food.
Winner stays up, loser falls into
the water. Great laughs for the audience.
There is plenty of good food and
drink to appease the ghosts.
A woman performs the Peefah dance
(traditional spiritual dance)
After a manic 10 days of Songkran
water-fighting, the Kong Khao festival is a polite, traditional way to herald
the start of the Thai New Year.
