Silk and Phuk Siao Festival

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Schedule : 29 November - 10 December 2002

Venue : Field in front of Provincial Hall, Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen

Origin :
The Silk and Phuk Siao Festival was first organized as "Khon Kaen Silk Festival" to publicize the silk products of the province so they become synonymous with Khon Kaen as the province of silk as well as become a yearly event. In 1980, the Isan Cultural Center of Khon Kaen proposed that the Phuk Siao ceremony is incorporated into the festival.
The ceremony aims to unify the people and is an age-old tradition of the Northeast. Therefore, the festival changed its name to the "Silk and Phuk Siao Ceremony" and it has used this name to the present.

Activities :
- Procession about the motto of the province (the motto is about Phra That Kham Kaen, Khaen musical instrument, Khun flower, silk, Phuk Siao ceremony, touring Khon Kaen, dinosaurs, and gold medal in the Olympics from boxing).
- Phuk Siao ceremony and contests of ceremonial pedestals and Miss Silk of Khon Kaen.
- Contest of silk products, silk pavilion (silk kingdom), silk weaving demonstration, demonstration on raising silkworm, and stores selling local goods.
- Red Cross shops and lottery, Red Cross fish, and exhibitions by public and private offices.
- Pong Lang musical performances, local shows, entertainment, and famous country music stars.
- Arts and culture shows.

Nearby Tourist Spots :
- Bung Kaen Nakhon (Muang)
	is a place for relaxation and exercise for locals. The area is at its most beautiful at sunset.
- Khon Kaen National Museum (Muang)
	has exhibits on civilizations and artifacts found in the Northeast.
- Phra That Kham Kaen (Nam Phong)
	is in Wat Chetiyaphum, Tambon Ban Kham. It is sacred to the people of the province.
- Nam Phong National Park (Nong Rua)
	is the source of the Chi and Phong rivers, as well as a good point to view Ubolrat Reservoir and Khon Kaen city.
- Phu Wiang National Park (Phu Wiang)
	is where the fossils of 2 new types of dinosaurs were discovered; phuwianggosaurus sirindhornae (after H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn) and siamosaurus suteethorni (after the discoverer). Moreover, the fossil of siamotyrannus isanensis, the oldest fossil of the Tyrannosaur family, was found here. It dates from 1220-130 million years ago.

For more information, contact :
- Khon Kaen Provincial Office.
	Tel. (043) 236882, fax (043) 239381