The annual Mon Floating Boat festival 2018 takes place this year from 23 to 25 September at Wang Wiwekaram Temple in Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi.
Rooted in both animist and Buddhist philosophy, Mon people believe offering alms in a floating boat pays respect to the ‘angel of the river’, forest and earth. On the first day, villagers prepare for the ceremony by putting final touches on a bamboo boat over one month in the making, dress it in paper flags and other decorations.
On the second day, religious activities include making merit and offering alms to Buddhist monks and filling boats with a colourful display of bananas, sugar cane, desserts, floral arrangements and candles.
The final day concludes the festival with Mon villagers pushing their individual boats out on to the Samprasob river to clean themselves of all the bad things in life. Traditional Mon festive costumes, sarongs with red and white plaid long sleeve shirts for men, red sarongs and white long sleeve shirts for women, brighten the entire event.
The festival takes place at the Ban Wang Ka Mon community in Sangkhlaburi town, Kanchanaburi. Other points of interest and beautiful attractions in the district include Pom Pee View Point, Muang Badan (The Underwater Temple), Mon Bridge and more.
For more information, contact:
TAT Kanchanaburi Office
Tel: +66 (0) 3451 1200; +66 (0) 3451 2500
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
