Chiang Mai City Pillar Inthakin Festival

Many towns and cities in Thailand house what is known as the ‘city pillar’. These pillars were created when a new settlement was established and often located at the geographical heart of the city. The pillars were originally made of wood or stone, but in most cases now have protective metal or brass casings. Different regions of Thailand have different names for these pillars, but in the old northern Thai language the pillars were called ‘inthakin’. Some historians believe the pillars represent a phallus and were created to encourage the fertility of the land which would have been crucial to an agricultural society. These ancient animist beliefs pre-date the arrival of Buddhism in Thailand, but even as Buddhism spread the old traditional beliefs still remained, just as they do in so many aspects of Thai society today.

The Legend…