![]() The temple is home to a special “Chedi” building that holds the finger bone of Buddha. It sits in the shadow of the Buddhist monument on top of Karon mountain. Wat Chalong is one of the most respected and revered temples in Thailand, and a popular tourist attraction in Phuket. Regardless of when you come, the Wat Chalong Fair makes for a wonderful experience with great fun and excellent food and shopping bargains to be had. During the last 3 days of the fair, popular Thai singers put on concerts that attract more than 15,000 people. Muay Thai boxing matches are held every few days along with “Reekay”, which is a cultural Thai dance and special musical entertainment. Vendors are always finding new and intriguing things to sell, like orchids and exotic koi and goldfish. The fair is a great way to try food from all over the country.Įvery year the Wat Chalong Festival grows more popular and expands on its attractions. Specialty dishes from all over Thailand are available from southern Thai to Issan cuisine. At the front there are restaurant and patio areas for people to dine. The fairgrounds are large and it takes a lot of walking to get around. Needless to say, the festival makes a great family event. For the children, there are large playground areas with cushioned slides, train rides, ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds. Like any festival for fair, entertainment areas are set up all over with water-dunk tanks, dart games, shooting games, games of chance and more. The experience at the temple during the 8 days of festivities is an excellent way to better understand the Thai people and their culture. Vendors sell goods in canvas tents and stalls, offering a wide variety of items such as bags, hats, jewelry, cosmetics, flowers, ceramics, and an impressive selection of sweets and snacks. The entire Wat (Temple) transforms with radiant lights, traditional music, and the smell of fresh BBQ roasting in the air. Many Thai people will make an offering as a way to show respect for their religion.Īt the main temple they will lay flowers, light incense and candles, and say a prayer. Thai people and tourists gather at the festival for fun, games, food, shopping and to socialize. The largest temple in the complex, called “Chedi”, is where the finger bone of Buddha is kept. Every year, at the end of January, the Wat Chalong Fair commences and runs for 8 days. Wat Chalong is the most revered Buddhist temple in the south of Thailand. ![]() The water, while mostly just fun play, represents the washing of the body, cleansing it of the bad omens from the previous year. The baby powder is gently rubbed on the face and body to ward off evil spirits and bad luck for the upcoming year. Over the years Songkran transformed into a week-long event across Thailand where festivals, fairs, and gatherings of families celebrate with baby powder and water. As a sign of respect, children and young people would gently pour water over the hands of their elders to bring in the new year. ![]() The Songkran Water Festival exists to honor a old Thai tradition. ![]() The Thai government declares “water play zones”, where you can celebrate by throwing or spraying people with water as a fun and friendly gesture. The Songkran (New Year) water festival beings April 8, and water guns, balloons, canons, buckets, and anything that holds water can be used to take part in the festivities. Songkran Water Festival April 8-14 (Thai New Year)
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