KANCHANABURI, Thailand – Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised has presided over the opening of the “Tai Song Dam Way of Life Festival—New Rice, Fatty Fish, and the Tradition Khao Mao Pounding,” an event celebrating the cultural heritage of the Tai Song Dam community in Kanchanaburi province. The festival was held at Wat Sa Ban Kluay in Phanom Thuan district.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Culture attended the ceremony, including Chotika Akkrakitsophakul, deputy permanent secretary for culture, and Yuthika Isarangkun Na Ayutthaya, director-general of the Department of Cultural Promotion. They were joined by provincial officials, local administrators, cultural council representatives, community leaders, and residents.
The festival celebrates the traditional practice of pounding khao mao (rice flakes), a seasonal custom observed after the rice harvest. The activity represents the way of life of the Tai Song Dam people and their connection to agriculture, community cooperation, and respect for nature and ancestors.
Officials said the event also supports efforts to develop cultural tourism and strengthen local economies through the use of community cultural assets. Authorities view such activities as a way to preserve traditional knowledge while creating opportunities for local communities to generate income and sustain cultural practices for future generations. (NNT)
