Close to the border with Myanmar, the town of Mae Hong Son stages a celebration known as Chong Para. This phrase loosely translates as wooden castle and local people build models of these and festoon them with coloured bunting and lights.
Traditional dances and parades accompany the castles in central parts of Mae Hong Son close to Jong Kham Lake. This ceremony is said by ethnic Tai Yai living in the area to greet the Lord Buddha upon his arrival back on earth after spending Lent with his mother.
The key Chong Para celebrations will take place today. As a homage to Buddha, Mae Hong Son also holds the Poy Lern Sib Ed Festival at this time. This festival began on Saturday and will run through to 16 October. The key location for activities and cultural highlights of the festival is Mae Hong Son’s town hall.
Northern Thailand celebrates end of Lent
News in Asia
Provinces in Northern Thailand are preparing to celebrate the end of the three-month Buddhist period of Lent. Wan Awk Pansa falls on Wednesday 8 October and will be marked with visits to local temples and general merriment as Buddhists who abstained from alcohol and other vices symbolically start up where they left off.