SPECIAL
WEDDING PACKAGE
FEBRUARY 12 - 14, 2004
The National Elephant Institute in
Lampang province will be holding a traditional
northern Thai, or Lanna-style, wedding ceremony
on elephant-back on Valentine's Day and is inviting
brides and grooms, previously wedded couples who
wish to renew their vows and couples in love to
participate in the ceremony.
|
LANNA-STYLE
WEDDING CEREMONY ON ELEPHANT-BACK
Arguably the most intimate
of social observances, weddings in any community
anywhere in the world evoke local tradition
perhaps more than any other ritual. Thailand
is of course no exception, and in Thailand's
northern region - Lanna, short for Lan Na
Thai or One Million Thai Rice-Fields - the
celebration of a couple's public commitment
to one another offers an open window onto
Lanna's unique culture.
In traditional Lanna weddings,
Thais normally divide the proceedings into
two main functions. First comes the suu
khaw, a ceremonial visit to the bride's
parents to ask for their daughter's hand.
Whether at the parents' home or in another
appointed place, the ritual involves the
presentation of engraved silver bowls containing
fresh flowers meant to honor the family's
ancestors, a symbolic sum of money representing
a dowry and a general wish for prosperity
in the form of fresh betel nuts, three dozen
leaves from auspicious plants, plus bags
of sesame seeds, rice and beans.
The second stage of the Lanna
wedding observance involves a procession
to a place selected for the marriage ceremony
itself. Here a maw phawn, local elder
versed in the ways of the all-important
Thai spirit world, will symbolically link
the couple together by tying a length of
sacred white cotton string between the left
wrist of the groom and right wrist of the
bride. A more literal tying of the knot
- in Northern Thai the ritual is known as
mat meu or 'wrist-binding' - could
hardly be envisaged.
In Lampang, a Northern Thai
city renowned during Thailand's teak empire
years for its plentiful work elephants,
wealthy families amplified on the mat
meu procession. Instead of approaching
the venue for the wedding ceremony on foot,
the bride and groom mounted a lavishly decorated
tusker, Thailand's most auspicious animal.
Slowly ambling down Lampang's historic streets,
these elephant-back wedding processions
must have been a delight to all who were
fortunate enough to grab a roadside view.
The phi-thi taeng-ngan bon
lang chang, or elephant-back wedding ceremony,
was revived by the Thai Elephant Conservation
Center (re-named the National Elephant Institute
in 2002) and the city of Lampang.
Couples participating in the
wedding ceremony and hoist themselves onto
elephants for a stately pachydermic pageant
at the National Elephant Institute Thai
Elephant Conservation Center in Hang Chat
district. The bridal couples and their guests
will be welcomed by a Lanna music and dance
performance, followed by the traditional
mat meu ceremony. Afterwards a Thai district
officer will register the nuptials and issue
wedding certificates to each couple. Then
it's time for everyone to celebrate with
traditional Lanna food and drink.
|
|
A portion of the wedding fees goes
towards the NEI's substantial operating expenses.
Love-struck individuals who contemplate
taking wedding vows to new heights can contact
the NEI at:
Tel: 0-5422-8108
Fax: 0-5432-1496, 0-5423-1150
SPECIAL
PACKAGES
WEDDING ON ELEPHANT-BACK
- FOR THE
BRIDAL COUPLE
FEBRUARY 12 - 14, 2004
The 30,000 baht Lanna-style wedding on elephant-back
package includes:
 |
The "Saan Sampan Saan
Maitree" training programme, on February
12, during which the bride and groom learn
how to ride an elephant and in the process
'bond' with their elephant. |
|
The Khan Maak Procession,
consisting of 40 elephants, the traditional
tray of gifts from the groom to the bride's
parents. |
|
The suu khaw ceremony
|
|
"Bai Sri" for
the Lanna wrist-binding ritual |
|
Lanna-style welcome dance
and cultural performances |
|
Souvenirs for the couple |
|
20 souvenirs for the guests |
|
Snacks and refreshments |
|
A certificate and marriage
license |
|
One homestay for February
12 - 14, 2004 |
|
A traditional northern-style
khantoke dinner |
His Excellency Mr. Prapat Panyachartraksa,
Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment,
will preside over the wedding ceremony.
- FOR WEDDED
COUPLES WISHING TO RENEW THEIR VOWS AND
- SWEETHEARTS
AND COUPLES IN LOVE
For their contribution of 3,000 baht made to
the elephant fund, couples receive souvenirs
and a Khantoke style dinner.
Contact information
The National Elephant Institute
Mr. Jeerasak Kasamsaamran
Tel: 0-5422-8108
Fax: 0-5432-1496, 0-5423-1150
Mobile phone: 01 - 8853708
E-mail: info@thailandelephant.org
Web site: www.thailandelephant.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All images featured in this article have been
kindly provided by the TAT office in Chiang Mai.
ECO-TOURISM
ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL ELEPHANT INSTITUTE
|
