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Phetchabun.go.th | ||||
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This religious ceremony means the bathing of a Buddha
image. This event is annually held on the fifteenth day of the waning
moon in the 10th lunar month or during the Sat Thai period, in September.
Phra Buddha Mahadhamaracha is a highly revered ancient Buddha image
of Phetchabun. The image was found in the Pasak River by a group
of farmers four hundred years ago and it was then taken to be housed
in Wat Trai Phum. According to a legend, the Buddha image was disappeared
twice from the temple and was later found in water. It was said
that the Buddha image itself had wandered out of the temple. Therefore,
the ritual bathing ceremony is held. The ceremony starts at 1 p.m.
The image is carried around town and put under a tent in Wat Trai
Phum, so Buddhists can pay respect to it and stick gold leaf on
its body. In the evening, prayers are chanted. At night, there are
various kinds of entertainment. The next morning, people make merit
as it is Sat Thai Day. Foods, including Krayasat, and other necessities
are given to monks. The Buddha image is then taken to be immersed
in the Pasak River by the governor of Phetchabun and traditional
dances are performed to show respect to it. After the ceremony,
the water in the river is regarded as sacred. As a result, people
swim in it or take the water to drink before the boat racing begins.
Sweet tamarind is grown mostly in Phetchabun.
Sweet Tamarind Fair is thus organised in Phetchabun to celebrate
the harvest of this fruit. This day is also called Phetchabun's
Agricultural Day. During the festival, farmers bring their sweet
tamarind to sell at reasonable price at Phetchabun's provincial
athletic field where contests of sweet tamarind and other crops
are held. Besides this, there are other agricultural exhibitions
and entertainment organised during the event.
