Poi Sang Long Procession is in fact
the celebration of novice ordination which the Thai
Yai tribe people hold to be a highly meritorious occasion.
Traditionally, the candidate-novice, his head cleanly
shaven and wrapped with head-cloth in the Burmese
style, will don a prince-like garment and put on valuable
jewels and gems, and ride a horse or be carried over
the shoulders of a man to the city shrine. On the
ordination eve, a procession of offerings and other
necessary personal belongings will be paraded through
the town streets and then placed at the monastery
where the ordination will take place the next day.
It is usually held during March-May before the Buddhist
Rain Retreat period.
Chong Phara Procession The Chong
Phara in the Thai Yai dialect Maens a castle made
of wood, covered with colourful perforated papers
and decorated with fruits, flags and lamps. It is
placed in the courtyard of a house or a monastery
as a gesture to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return
from giving sermons to his mother in heaven, according
to traditional belief. Other activities to celebrate
the occasion include dances where performers are dressed
in animal costumes. The rite is held during the post
rain retreat season from the full-moon day of the
11 the Lunar month (around October) to the waxing
moon night of the same month.
Bua Tong Blossom Festival Each year
in November, the hillsides of Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang
districts are filled with a host of golden Bua Tong
Blooms. As gay as a daisy and almost as large as a
sunflower, the Bua Tong only blossoms for a month.
At Doi Mae U-Kho, the blossoms appear
profusely. Finally, the golden blooms become part
of the scene. Some specialists have classified these
Bua Tong as weeds and because of this, they may be
cleared to make way for cash crops. Fortunately a
group of researchers have discovered the flower’s
insect-repellent properties. And perhaps that is why
the Bua Tong, a symbol of Mae Hong Son, is still preserved
on the hillsides.
Loi Krathong Festival Loi Krathong Festival
is held on the full moon night in the month of November
every year. Villagers make “krathongs” to float in
rivers. At Nong Chong Kham, various entertainments
and a contest of large krathongs are held near the
central pond. Lamps and candles are lit all around
the area. Moreover, at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu,
there is a ceremony of releasing candle-lit krathongs
bound with balloons to the sky (known as “Loi Krathong
Sawan”).
