CHON BURI BANG SAEN SONGKRAN SAND-STUPA BUILDING FESTIVAL
APRIL 16 - 17, 2008
On the beach in Bang Saen, Siracha district, Chon Buri province

Highlight on 16 April
Sand-stupa building contests

The Songkran celebrations in the Saensuk district Chon Buri province are of particular interest as the festivities reflect the local culture and environment. With no shortage of sand to build sand-stupas, the stupa building contest is a predominant element of the Songkran festivities in Chon Buri.

Residents of the each of the villages in the district gather together to take part in community Buddhist merit-making. Monks are invited to conduct merit-making ceremonies and rituals, whilst local residents present merit-making offerings and sprinkle scented lustral water on Buddha images in a Songkran Thai New Year bathing ritual. Families pay respect to elderly relatives and other respected individuals by pouring scented lustral water over the hands.

Festival highlights include the 'Kong Kao' religious ritual, rarely seen folk games and traditional Thai sports, cockfighting — a popular local sport, the Siracha Miss Songkran beauty pageant and Siracha Songkran Parade.

Contact information:
TAT Central Region Office: Region 3
Tel: +66 (0) 3842 7667, (0) 3842 8750
Fax: +66 (0) 3842 9113
E-mail: tatchon@tat.or.th

• The observance of the ‘kong kao’ religious ritual and other customs related to the celebration of the Thai New Year
• Procession of Buddha images and the ritual bathing of Buddha images
• Procession of ‘kong kao’ floats
• Sand-stupa building contest
• Thai cultural performances and folk games
• Sales of local food and desserts
• Miss Songkran beauty contest
• Water-splashing

• Buddhist merit-making and the ritual bathing of Buddha images at temples
• Scented lustral water is poured over the hands of elders and individuals held in high esteem in a gesture of respect.
• The building of sand stupas and the performance of consecration rituals
• Traditional folk games native to the island of Koh Si Chang such as the ‘Chinese-wok-boat’ races, boat-tug-of-war, and ‘tub jaak’ boxing, dart contests and hoop takraw competitions — a traditional Southeast Asian sport that is a cross between soccer and volleyball and is one of the most spectacular pastimes
• Witness a rarely seen traditional courtship tradition on the island of Koh Kaam Yai, approximately 1 km from the island of Koh Si Chang. The men of the village invite eligible young ladies to join them for water-splashing in the sea. If consent is granted, the man carries the young lady down the beach to the sea and then carries her back to shore again, after which the couples take part in the traditional ram wong circle dance.

• The procession of the Buddha image along the streets of Na Kleua district to enable local residents, visitors and tourists to participate in Buddhist merit-making bathing ritual by pouring lustral water over the Buddha image
• Songkran water-splashing on the beach

• A procession of the Buddha image along the Pattaya beachfront road offering local residents and visitors an opportunity to participate in the ritual bathing of a revered Buddha image.
• Buddhist merit-making and the ritual bathing of Buddha images at temples
• Rot nam dam hua ceremony
  Scented lustral water is poured over the hands of elders and individuals held in high esteem in a gesture of respect.
• The observance of the ‘Kong khao’ ritual
• The building of sand stupas and the performance of consecration rituals
• Traditional folk games such as ‘sharp-shooting’ with elastic bands, and traditional folk sports played on the beach such as beach-tug-of-war, hoop takraw and muay talay boxing matches.
• Cultural presentations and performances
• Miss Songkran beauty contest
• Songkran water-splashing by the beach