Illuminated Boats Procession

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Schedule : 17-21 October 2002

Venue : On the Mekong River, Amphoe Muang, Nakhon Phanom

Origin :
The Illuminated Boats Procession of Nakhon Phanom has been held for some time. It is held at the end of the Buddhist Lent or on the 15th full-moon night of October. It is an activity to pray to Lord Buddha.
The festival was started in 1983 by Nakhon Phanom Municipality. The office invited public offices, merchants, associations, and temples to produce illuminated boats from banana trees, bamboo or other floatable materials. The boats must not be at least 6 meters in length and made into the shape of a swan, serpent, Garuda, or other beautiful forms to enter in a contest. That year, there were 52 entries. The festival gives a memorable image of rows of lit boats decorated with lanterns on the mighty Mekong River.

Activities :
- Merit making.
- Illuminated boats contest and procession and boat races on the Mekong, a fast-flowing river that is very challenging to the contestants.
- Various entertainments.

Nearby Tourist Spots :
- Wat Okat (Si Bua Ban) (Muang)
	is a sacred temple of the province. The temple has Chao Mun Shrine and the Buddha images of Phra Tew and Phra Thiam that are worshipped by Buddhists everywhere.
- Wat Si Thep Pradittharam (Wat Si Thep)
	has a beautiful assembly hall and lovely wall murals. It also houses the important Phra Saeng Buddha image.
- Na Muang Nakhon Phanom Dam (Muang)
	is a place to relax and watch the great view of the Mekong River, particularly at sunrise when the sun emerges from behind mountains along the river.
- Phra That Tha Uthen (Tha Uthen)
	is an important religious site housing the relics of monks that were transported from Yangon in Myanmar.
- Phra That Phanom (That Phanom)
	houses the holy relics of Lord Buddha and many valuable items, including the solid gold pagoda top weighing 110 kilograms.
- Renu Nakhon (Renu Nakhon)
	is where the Phu Thai people live. They still adhere to their age-old ways.

For more information, contact :
- TAT Northeastern Region Office: Area 4 (Nakhon Phanom).
	Tel. (042) 513490-1, fax (042) 513492