Thailand to organise ASEAN Makha Bucha event

SA KAEO, THAILAND, February 26 (TNA) - Thailand will organise an ASEAN Makha Bucha event in the eastern Sa Kaeo Province, bordering Cambodia, early next month, aimed to use the Buddhist activity to strengthen relations between the two neighbouring countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by the end of this year. Somkiat Phantham, Sa Kaeo's Cultural Office Chief, and Assistant Professor Rawiwan Wannawichai, Dean of government-run Srinakharinwirot University (SWU)'s Faculty of Liberal Arts, announced that the two parties, in cooperation with the state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Nakhon Nayok's office, will jointly organise the ASEAN Makha Bucha event at the Sdok Kok Thom Castle in Sa Kaeo's Khoksung District on March 4, marking a historic full-moon day of Buddhism in the third month of the Lunar calendar when 1,250 arhats, ordained by the Lord Buddha himself, conjoined without any prior appointment for a sermon given by the Lord Buddha. At the event, also aimed to promote ancient Buddhist traditions and local tourism, Somkiat said, major activities will be held, including a contest of parades from Sa Kaeo and Cambodian Banteay Meanchey Provinces, a circumambulation ceremony, in which Banteay Meanchey Governor will also join, and a magnificent light and sound show to end the night. The Sdok Kok Thom Castle is the largest and most ancient historical site in Sa Kaeo and the largest archaeological site with the Khmer architectural style in the eastern Thai region. (TNA)