Thailand festivals Samut Sakhon Chao Pho Lak Mueang Procession
Author: josh@Asiabackpackers.com
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Thailand festivals Samut Sakhon. Where the cities spirits are taken by land and sea,to enable the local people to gain good fortune in their every-day lives
When: 1 – 5th June 2017
Where: Chao Pho Lak Mueang shrine, Samut Sakhon. Central Thailand
Each year the people of this Bangkok Metropolitan Region, hosts the annual celebration for its Chao Pho Lak Mueang. With most of the activities centered around the City Pillar Shrine near the Tha Chin River embankment in front of the City Hall.
Lak Mueang are City pillars, found in most cities of Thailand. Usually housed in a shrine which is also believed to house Chao Pho Lak Mueang, the city spirit deity; they are held in high esteem by local people. The Thai, Chinese and Mon style Lak Mueang, in Samut Sakhon is regarded as the oldest Ganesha shrine in Thailand
During the four day event the “Chao Pho Lak Mueang” will be placed on a fishing boat, which has been beautifully decorated with flags and flowers. The boat will then set off along the Tha Chin River calling into the Suwannaram Monastery and then on further to Wat Chong Lom, to enable local people to pay respect and in return gain good fortune. The procession by land will also follow.
The last day of the festival is also the birthday of the Chao Pho Lak Mueang of Samut Sakhon, participants in the festival will be given “holy noodle” to mark the auspicious day. Throughout the five-day festival, a range of entertainment activities will be held at night, including concerts, outdoor cinemas, Chinese opera, Likay (Thai folk theatre) and comedy shows.
During the day, visitors will have the opportunity to try traditional local food and drinks
If you are going to the festival, you may want to think about combining your journey, with a trip to the nearby Umbrella Pull-Down Market, to witness what must be the strangest market in Thailand. (See our post Mind the Gap).
Umbrella pull down market
Normal opening hours for the shrine: daily from 6 am to 6 pm
Admission fee: Free of charge
Contact: Samut Sakhon Chao Pho Lak Mueang Shrine Tel: 0 3442 5150
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Visitor Rating: 5 Stars
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars