Travel Thailand Phra Nakhon Khiri Muang Phet Fair

Phra Nakhon Khiri Muang Phet Fair
Date : 10 - 19 April 2009
Venue : Khao Wang and Around the City Limit of Phetchaburi

"Khao Wang" is a hill located in the heart of Phetchaburi city, it is the location of frist hill palace of Thailand. "Phra Nakhon Khiri" palace was built by King Chomklao (Mongkut), or the Rama IV reign, in 1859, with Chao Phaya Sri Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag) was the chief architect. It was builtl with a palace temple, Wat Phra Keo Noi, a stupa, to contain the relics of Lord Buddha named by the Kings as Chompetch relics and planted temple trees on both sides connecting the three hills and the group of the throne halls.

Phra Nakhon Khiri is a main tourist attraction of Phetchaburi with importance in history, culture and natural beauty. In 1935 it was registered as a historical place and in 1979 was declared as a national museum of the monument type. every year from Febuary through April the temple trees on Khao Wang hill almost 200 years old numbering 1,263 trees all showed off more than one million flowers.

Phra Nakhon Khiri or Khao Wang hill has been the place of the annual fair of Phetchaburi continuously up to 22 times. In 2009 it will reach the 150th anniversary. The 2009 annual fair uses the concept of "150th Anniversary to Mark King Rama IV" scheduled to be held from April 10-19, 2009 at Khao Wang and around the city limit of Phetchaburi. It combines with the Phetchaburi Red Cross Fair for the public and tourists to participate in the activities and make merits with the Phetchaburi Red Cross Society.

Activities at Phra Nakhon Khiri - Phetchaburi City
The ceremony is to worship the city pillar shrine/the ancestral kings, exhibition to honor the ancestral kings and sustainable economy, the performances of Department of Fine Arts, a parade to honor the kings and the Phetchaburi way of life. Performances on the central stage, a contest of sweet Phetchaburi beauties, demonstration of foods and local sweets, ox chariot racing, decoration of lights and fairworks on Khao Wang each night. They will set up booths selling OTOPs at the fair, set up sales booths at the Red Cross fair and selling Phetchaburi Red Cross raffle to win the cup of HRH Princess Somdet Phrathep Rattanasuda Siam Baromratch Kumari.

Worshipping Ceremony
09.00 hrs. - Ceremony to worship the city pillar shrine at the shrine ground.
09.39 hrs. - Ceremony to worship the ancestral kings, the King Ramas IV (King Mongkut),
V and VI reigns at the yard in front of Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang)
Dress Code : Normal white dress

Opening ceremony at the yard in front of Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang)
09.00 hrs. - Honorable guests and ceremonial participants get together at the ceremonial area.
20.00 hrs. - Chairman arrives at the ceremonial area.
- Music band plays the propitious song.
20.09 hrs. - Phetchaburi governor addresses the audience to open the fair
and gives souvenirs souvenirs to the fair supporters.
- Ceremonial chairman performs the opening ceremony.
- Chairman reviews the honoring parade.
- Chairman visits the activities on Khao Wang.
Dress Code : Batik clothes.

Performances at the Central Stage
April 10, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
set off 600 fireworks at 20.00 hrs.
April 11, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
beauty contest of Phetchaburi sweet girls,
eliminating round (the 1st set),
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 12, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
beauty contest of Phetchaburi sweet girls,
eliminating round (the 2nd set),
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 13, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 14, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 15, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
set off 600 fireworks at 20.00 hrs.
April 16, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 17, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 18, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
beauty contest at the final round,
set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.
April 19, 2009 Performances by musical bands /
performances of districts & governmental agencies,
drawing of the Red Coss raffle,
and set off 600 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

Magic moments in Khmer heritage

A splash of sunlight penetrating an ancient temple cloister signals a distinctive celebration at Prasat Phanom Rung.

Knowing the exact moment to witness a spectacular sunrise through the doorway of an ancient Hindu temple requires a detailed calculation.

The most auspicious day is 3 April; the time, 0602.32 at sunrise, as the amber sun is perfectly aligned in the centre of the main doorway to a temple standing on a former volcanic mountain in northeast Thailand.

Actually, the sun rays pass straight through 15 perfectly aligned doorways of Prasat Phanom Rung, a revered and ancient Hindu monastery, just four times a year -– two sets of sunrises, in April and September, and two sets of sunsets, in March and October.
These spectacular solar-related events, that also bear religious significance in the Hindu faithful, span just three days –- 2, 3 and 4 April. The second day is considered the most auspicious as the sun is visible dead centre of the outer doorway of this Khmer Hindu temple. Sun rays cast light through 15 aligned doorways that span 75 metres of the temple’s inner courtyard illuminating a revered lingam deep in the main sanctuary. On the other two days, the sun passes one of the corners of these doorways.

Located about 120 km east of Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway to the northeast region, Prasat Phanom Rung presents a picturesque setting high above the surrounding countryside. A series of steps lead to this ancient monument that stands on the peak of an extinct volcano offering panoramic views of rice fields and hazy mountains on the border with Cambodia.

While photographers will not want to miss the opportunity to capture the 3 April sunrise perfectly aligned within the lintels of the doorways, most visitors will settle for the evening festivals and a colourful light and sound show organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand performing nightly from 2 to 4 April.

Officially known as the “Ascent of the Mountain Annual Festival” or the “Festival Of The Thousand Year Miracle of the Phanom Rung Grand Shrine” the celebrations start with the religious significance of the sunrises, but continue with community festivities on each of the three days, well into the night.

The 80-minute light and sound show, that start at 20:00, highlights the history of Prasat Phanom Rung and explains the significance of the sunrise and its alignment with the temple’s courtyard doors.
The show is described as an “extravagant outdoor Son et Lumiere performances led by a large cast of actors, dancers and acrobats.”

This evening spectacular, held within the temple complex, compliments the daytime activities that start with the sunrise ceremonies and are followed by colourful festivities throughout the day. In the afternoon there is almost a carnival spirit as visitors enjoy the local food specialities sold at stalls, the folk music and dances as well as handicraft displays. Many visitors are tempted to stay on to admire the floodlight sanctuary, or slumber through night under the stars to ensure they have a prime spot to participate in the sunrise ceremonies on the following morning.

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