Songkran highlight in Chanthaburi

CHANTHABURI, April 18 (TNA) - Tourists flocked to the grand Songkran celebration in Chanthaburi, one of the five major Songkran venues, promoted in the regions by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The event here maintained unique and prominent folk culture. The event was held at the Thapon Yai temple in Khlung district. A large number of people flocked to experience the 100 –year tradition of the tug of war, in which villagers pull the cart, carrying the holy cloth, with the written Buddha footprints. It started with the blessing ceremony before the holy cloth was carried in a procession. A merit-making ceremony was arranged at the village pavilion along with various kinds of entertainments. The fun was added with the tug of war, in which the two sides of contestants pulled the cart, carrying the holy Buddha footprint cloth. It is believed that participants will have good luck and good health as locals believe the Buddha footprint cloth can ward off illness. Besides the procession, other highlights of the event are a light and sound show about King Taksin the Great, an ancient market and building of 2561 sand pagodas at the Thapon Noi temple. (TNA)