- HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
-
Guardian spirits offered food and sweets in centuries-old tradition
-
Chonburi crowns Miss Songkran 2010
-
Devils march through Bangpra for 78th year
-
Pattaya Business & Tourism Association says ‘thank you’
|
|
Guardian spirits offered food
and sweets in centuries-old tradition
Beautiful Thai dancers from Pattaya School #9 perform to
appease the gods.
Beautiful goddesses saunter past the audience.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
After nine days of water-crazed excitement, Songkran came
to a close in Naklua with the annual “Kong Kao” (rice harvest) festival,
offering food and sweets to the spirits in a centuries-old tradition to pray
for prosperity in the coming year.
The slingshot competition requires a high level of concentration.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Banglamung District Chief
Mongkol Thammakittikhun presided over the April 20 event attended by top
bureaucrats, city council members and the public.
The day started with afternoon activities such as a
slingshot competition, hoop takraw and a four-meter oily post climbing
competition for adults and a 2-meter oily post for youngsters. The bamboo
poles were greased with oil and had 500-baht notes attached to the tops for
the winning climbers to grab.
The head deity leads the procession to inspect the food on offer.
The always amusing “sea-boxing”, where kids balance
precariously on a horizontal pole trying to knock their competitor off
before losing their balance and falling into the drink, drew plenty of
mirth.
A “Tri Bhumi” performance depicting heaven, earth, and
hell delighted the audience. The ancient fighting art of “kratoa tang sua”
was also a highlight.
Later people arrived with food and desserts and decorated
Lan Pho Park for the official ceremony. While waiting for it to start the
city put on traditional Thai dancing and boxing shows.
Youngsters try to reach the 500 baht at the top of the greased 2 meter
pole.
The worship ceremony started with the lighting of candles
and incense to worship gods and goddesses. This was to invite them to come
out and bless the people, as well as enjoy the food put out on their behalf.
The origins of the Kong Kao ceremony are hazy, but it has
been held during Songkran for generations to ask for the gods’ protection
and blessings. In times past, villagers believed that guardian spirits and
angels watched over them, and at the time of the New Year they offered food
in the belief that the spirits would be pleased and that happiness and
prosperity would be assured for another year. It also is a way to bring the
community together in peace and harmony, something sorely lacking in
Thailand these days.
After the ceremony, food collected is equally shared among the ceremony
attendants.
Naklua inhabitants prepare food and desserts for the
spirits.
Devils swoop in to gather and eat the food and desserts.
Sea boxing is always good for a hearty belly-laugh.
Athletes compete in the hoop takraw competition.
Chonburi crowns Miss Songkran 2010
Boonlua Chatree
Chonburi has crowned 24-year-old Juthamat Thanimat as its
Miss Songkran 2010.
Juthamat, who won 50,000 baht as a result, was one of 53
contestants in the Chonburi Festival pageant on April 11. Dressed in
traditional Thai costume, she was sponsored by Panat Nikom District.
Chonburi’s Miss Songkran 2010, 24-year-old Juthamat
Thanimat, receives the spoils of victory from Governor Senee Jittakasem.
Other winners included Miss Chonburi and Miss Mass Media,
who each won 10,000 baht. Miss Chonburi, 22-year-old Sawitree Piewkhao, was
sponsored by the Chonburi Industrial Department and Suksom Palm Oil Co.,
Ltd. Miss Mass Media, 20-year-old Puthaporn Thongpum was sponsored by the
Ban Suam Sub-district.
The first runner-up, 23-year-old Lalita Thuwanon, was
sponsored by Pattaya and took home 30,000 baht. Second runner-up was
21-year-old Surangkana Chantarakhon who was sponsored by Muang Chonburi and
won 20,000 baht.
Miss Chonburi and Miss Mass Media, Sawitree Piewkhao
and
Puthaporn Thongpum look stunning in their Songkran dresses.
(L to R) Second runner-up Surangkana Chantarakhon, Miss
Songkran 2010
Juthamat Thanimat, and first runner-up Lalita Thuwanon beam
winning smiles.
Devils march through Bangpra for 78th year
Theerarak Suthathiwong
Thailand’s only parade of “devils” marched again from
Bangpra Mountain through the market and to the beach as part of the
sub-district’s Songkran celebration.
The devil is paraded through town before being set adrift into the sea.
The April 18 procession marked the 78th year the devil
parade has been held. It was born out of reverence for the fierce animals
that once stalked the jungles in the sub-district. By creating their own
devils, locals felt they could control malicious spirits and ghosts. Now,
however, it continues due its popularity as a draw for tourists.
Worship services were held before the demons were floated
out to sea to cure evil. The parade itself was comprised of vehicles from
communities and private companies.
Beauty and the beast: a Miss Songkran rides a tiger in
the parade.
It was told to and believed by Bangpra inhabitants that
this ceremony will remove bad luck and cure all evils such as sickness and
death, by floating them away with the devil. It also creates unity for the
public on both sides of the canal.
It is said that in ancient times, Bangpra was a small
village on the shore and people lived as fishermen. One day there was an
unexpected event in the village. A cholera breakout caused the deaths of
several people and domestic animals. Later on, a villager had a dream to
cure this bad fortune by constructing a devil’s image to remove it with a
ceremony and parade throughout the village. The public gathered at a field
in the village to conduct worship, and begged the pardon of the devil to
cure evil.
When the devil image parade arrived on Bangpra Beach, the
villagers sent the devil’s face into the sea and conducted worship with food
and desserts. They waded out into the sea as deep and as far from the shore
as they could with the belief that the devil will take all sadness, illness
and death away from Bangpra.
When the end of the ceremony was finished in the evening,
darkness engulfed the area. The devil was seen in the dark floating away.
The thoughts were that this devil took all evil away and gave back happiness
and kindness. From that time on the villagers have been safe from this
disease. Therefore, they have held this ceremony ever since.
Marchers in the parade are also
willing participants in regular Songkran water fun.
Elaborate floats add color to the
parade.
Thousands of revelers take part in
the traditional festivity.
Pattaya Business & Tourism
Association says ‘thank you’
Staff reporters
The Pattaya Business & Tourism Association said “thank
you” to city leaders, government officials and military representatives at a
party following its annual general meeting.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (left) receives a souvenir from
Jamroon Vitsavachaipan, chairman of the Pattaya Business & Tourism
Association.
The March 30 bash at the J Hotel was attended by Mayor
Itthiphol Kunplome, Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya Director Niti
Kongkrut, Rear Adm. Surapong Aiyasanon, the deputy director of U-Tapao
Pattaya International Airport, and others. PBTA Chairman Jamroon
Vitsavachaipan played host.
In his speech, Jamroon thanked public and private
organizations for supporting the association’s activities, especially as
they related to tourism.
Niti Kongkrut (left), director of the TAT Pattaya office,
receives a souvenir from Jamroon Vitsavachaipan, chairman of the Pattaya
Business & Tourism Association.
Itthiphol said the city is always happy to cooperate with
the association because it has the same goal as Pattaya: to develop the city
into a diverse sustainable-tourism destination.
Jamroon also presented gifts to those in attendance,
including Dir. Pichit Kangwolkij, director of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, and
Pratheep Malhotra, managing director of the Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.
Dr. Pichit Kangwolkij (left), director of Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya,
receives a souvenir from Jamroon Vitsavachaipan,
chairman of the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association.
Pratheep Malhotra (left), managing director of Pattaya
Mail Publishing Co., Ltd., receives a souvenir from Sinchai
Wattanasartsathorn, vice president of the PBTA.
|
|
|
|
News | Business | Features |
Columns | Mail Bag |
Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel |
Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds |
Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up
E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596
Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
|
|
|
