
Hae Phra Khiao Kaeo
, or Celebrations of Lord Buddha’s Tooth. Buddhists
believe that “Phra Khiao Kaeo” is the tooth
of Lord Buddha. The festival is held on the first
day of the waxing moon in the fourth month of
the lunar calendar. The people of Amphoe Phra
Phutthabat will present the tooth that is to be
taken from Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan
Museum and bear it in a procession around the
town. They believe that if the procession is held,
they will live in wealth and happiness.
Tak Bat Dok Mai ,
the Food Offering Festival, is an important
event of Phra Phutthabat district. This impressive
merit-making ceremony is held to coincide with
the start of the annual three-month Buddhist
Lent (around June-July) when Buddhist monks
must stay in their temples. In the morning,
the people will offer food and candles to Wat
Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan, Tambon
Khun Khon, Phra Phutthabat district. They will
go to collect a kind of flower called “The
Flower of Buddhist Lent”, to offer to the
monks for merit. The herb-like flower has yellow
or white colors and is found at a hillside only
during the Buddhist Lent period in Saraburi.
While the monks come along the passage to bring
the flowers to pay homage to Lord Buddha’s Footprint,
people will wait at the stairs with a bowl of
clean water floating Mimusops. They will pour
the water onto the feet of the monks and the
novices as a means of cleaning one’s mind.
Phra Phutthabat Homage-paying
Festival Stems from the time when Lord Buddha’s
Footprint was found in the reign of King Songtham
of Ayutthaya. The mondop was built to cover
the footprint. At present, the footprint is
situated at Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan,
Tambon Khun Khon. A large number of Thais and
foreigners come to Phra Phutthabat during the
event. The event is held twice a year: from
the first day till the fifteenth day of the
waxing moon in the third month of the lunar
calendar totalling 15 days; and from the eighth
day until the fifteenth day of the waxing moon
in the fourth month of the lunar calendar for
8 days.
Chao Pho Khao Tok Festival
or Chao Pho Khao Tok Procession is an annual
festival. The event features the supernatural
power performances of Chao Pho Khao Tok and
walking on fire, Lo Ko dragon parade, and Chinese
opera. Mostly Chinese people, especially the
pupils of Chao Pho Khao Tok, will come to join
the festival. The event is held from the first
day of the waxing moon in the fourth month of
the lunar calendar for 4 days at Wat Phra Phutthabat
Ratchaworamahawihan in Phra Phutthabat district.
Kam Fa Festival is
held on the second day of the waxing moon in
the third month of the lunar calendar. The festival
features folk entertainments and activities
including a pitch and toss game, cockfighting,
toasting ricein bamboo, etc. On the third day
of waxing moon in the third month of the lunar
calendar, people perform merit making and attend
sermons, cook and tell stories about ancestors.
The festival takes place annually at Tambon
Phai Lio, Don Phut district.
Songkran Song Nam Sao
Nang Takian Wat Sung is held annually on
April 23 in front of Wat Sung’s chapel, Sao
Hai district. People perform merit making by
pouring water to the elders and to Nang Takian
pillar.
Pa Sak Boat Racing Festival
is a major annual regatta that takes place in
front of Sao Hai district office’s pier on the
last Saturday or Sunday of September. Famous
boats from all over the country join in the
race. This festival preserves local tradition.
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