To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, the northeastern town of Nakhon Phanom and the banks of the Mekong River will be lit up for the annual Illuminated Boat Festival, which runs from this Friday to Oct 30, making it a wonderful festive getaway for vacationers to savour the charm of Thai cultural legacy.
photos courtesy of TAT Nakhon Phanom
According to local beliefs, boats have been used to worship the Lord’s Buddha’s footprints and the Chulamanee pagoda in heaven, as well as to show devotion to the goddess of water.
The Lai Rue tradition has been passed down through generations and local artisans have developed techniques to create a parade of grandiose 80m-long illuminated boats decked out with thousands of lights, which represent the glory and brightness of life.
This year’s highlight is a procession of spectacular illuminated boats from 12 districts on Oct 29,…
