Thailand Festivals and Events 2009-2010

May 2010

Yasothon Bun Bangfai Rocket Festival
Date: 5 May 2010 - 9 May 2010
Venue: Phaya Thaen Park, Mueang District, Yasothon

While the rocket owners pack as much as 25 kg of black powder into plastic or bamboo pipes to give their homemade missiles take off, the blueprints for this exceptionally noisy festival are traced in the mystical skies ruled by gods. Approaching rain clouds signal the start of the rice planting season, but according to northeastern folklore the first raindrops fall only when the gods are in the mood for love. They need encouragement hence the importance of the Bun Bang Fai, or rocket festival, to stir the mythical community, resident in the heavens, to bless earth with fertility and rain.

One mother of all rockets shoots high into the sky possibly for a kilometre or more stimulating the gods to action. Its vapour trail and height is seen as an omen. The higher it goes, the more rain will fall on the northeast plateau bringing good fortune and a bumper rice harvest.

None of these lofty goals prevent Yasothon’s residents and thousands of visitors from the more earthly pleasures of merry making associated with their homemade rockets.

All sizes and shapes are built around a simple plastic or bamboo pipe packed solid with black powder and fuses. They can be up to 10 metres, or more, in length, as long as they are capable of powering into the skies at blast off. Anything short of that spectacle prompts a chorus of laughter from the crowd and even a few missiles of mud aimed at the head of the hapless rocket owner.

While the rockets compete, the crowd is entertained with comedy, often bawdy with a smattering of dirty jokes and raucous country music. It’s a genuine farming community excuse to have fun and get the planting season off to a good start.

Accidents are few and far between, but as the beer and rice whisky flows, missiles may stutter, wobble or even do some low flying antics over the tents and entertainment stages.

Rocket festivals are held throughout the region and in neighbouring Laos, but Yasothon residents, noted for their sense of humour, inspire an event that draws international visitors attracted by a hilarious three-day party. It embodies I-san’s ability to rise above the hardships of tilling the land.

Ironically, at any other time of the year, Yasothon is a sleepy northeast town that hardly warrants a second glance. Rarely visited by tourists, it is overshadowed by its neighbour Ubon Ratchathani, 98 km to the southeast. Considered the prime tourism gateway to the lower I-san region, Ubon Ratchathani’s airport is served by both the national airline, Thai Airways International, and low-cost airlines. It is possible to hire a car at the airport and drive northwest on Highway 23 to Yasothon.

The town’s hotels are full during this short festival and hotels will double their rates to cash in on the festival’s popularity. There are also hotels in Roi-et, 60 km northwest of Yasothon, while some visitors may decide to stay in Ubon and embark on a daytrip returning after sunset.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day
Date: 10 May 2010
Venue: Sanam Luang, Bangkok

Held at on the spacious grounds of Sanam Luang against the backdrop of imposing government buildings and the Grand Palace, this ancient Brahmin ceremony takes place 9 May at an auspicious time set even to the seconds hand of the clock by custodians of this custom.

Having their origins in India, the rites of the Ploughing Ceremony can be witnessed in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia.

Once the Brahmin priests have set the auspicious time after consulting the stars and interpreting omens, the stage is set for Bangkok to turn the pages back from modern commercial endeavour to a ceremony that touches the soil and essence of life itself. To the sound of tambourines and flutes the royal ceremony draws various players to a pegged area of “Sanam Luang” where omens will be interpreted to chart the course of the nation’s economy and wellbeing.

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Rayong Funkky Fruit Festival
Date: May 2010
Venue: Rayong City

We welcome all to the brand new "Rayong Funky Fruit Festival"-a borderless celebration of heritage, nature & culture in this stunning province of Rayong. We celebrate Rayong's natural gifts with "StarFruit", an exhibition and promotion of Rayong's great agricultural tradition as well as "Rayong in Pictures". The heritage & peoples of Rayong are given new life in Live Poetry in the "Suntorn Pu Lives!" performances as well as "the Originals"-musical performance by artists from the original peoples of Thailand's East - the Khmers, the Tai, even the rare Chong peoples. To this festival of great food, culture and exhibition we add a full-blown Funky Fruit Musiq  Festival featuring the Best of Thai Musiq & our own original World Musiq recipes...

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Visakha Buddha Bucha Festival
Date: 22 – 28 May 2010
Venue: Sanam Luang, Phranakhon District, Bangkok

Activities
Decorated processions on Visakha Bucha Day of government and private working units and exhibition about Visakha Bucha Day, contest of flower bush Trays, Contest of Soraphanya Reciting 

World’s Durian Festival
Date: May 2010
Venue: Chanthaburi

Activities   
Decorations of fruits trays of government and private sectors, Trade Fair of Housewives, Local OTOP Food Fair, Fruit Decoration Caravan, Fruit and Processed Products Contest, Good Quality Jewelry and Accessories Fair

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