If you are visiting Thailand just in time for the Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival, here are some things you need to know in advance to have a grand visit. Read on!
Every year, thousands of people from all over the globe rush to Thailand to experience the country's incredible array of festivals. These vibrant celebrations showcase the country's history and culture. Participating in such activities must be a joy. One such event is Thailand's annual Rocket Festival.
This ancient celebration, named the Bun Bang Fai Festival in the region, is a merit-making event in which people launch homemade rockets into the sky in the hopes of attracting the attention of the rain gods and ensuring a favorable monsoon season for planting crops. Yasothon, in northeastern Thailand, is where the festival's most important ceremonies take place, and it's a sight to behold. The fact that this event has been celebrated for centuries and is still extensively observed today is evidence that the Thais value their heritage highly.
The celebration is thought to have originated from Buddhist fertility practices that marked the beginning of the monsoon season. Lao folk culture is also represented at the festival. The event is a time for revelry before the start of the arduous work of planting crops. Traditional rocket celebrations are still being researched by academics today because of the potential impact they might have on the socioeconomic and political growth of Southeast Asia.
The day begins as usual with dancing performances and exhibitions, but the launching of the rocket rockets is the most important event. Villagers gather for an annual celebration in which they set off homemade bamboo rockets into the sky. Then, the locals start praying for lots of rain. The race to launch rockets into the sky and have them judged for their aesthetic appeal and distance traveled begins on the last day. If a rocket fails to launch, its owner is disqualified and must either jump into a mud pool or cover themselves in mud.
During the three days, spectators can watch parades in various villages, marvel at the dozens of colorful rockets filling the sky, and get their fill of thrills at the various competitions. The traditional Bang Fai inauguration rocket is the first of several sorts of rocket firings.
Since it is a festival celebrating fertility, crude humor, and cross-dressing are common. Over just three days, we see people of varying ages and genders dressing similarly. Sura is the most consumed beverage in the hamlet. Other scenic highlights can be found at the festival as well. The workshops show guests how to construct their own Bang Fai rocket. Join the session and discover the secrets of creating a bamboo masterpiece.
On the very first day of the Thai rocket festival, locals send their bamboo rockets to the city's pillar temple as a form of worship. After this, the festival continues for another two days with dances and shows. The tourists may not be interested in this, but the locals are having a blast. But make the most of the time you have at this three-day festival by asking questions and participating in the activities.
