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5 spectacular Thai spring festivals From rockets fired into the sky to the world’s biggest water fight, these spring festivals in Thailand are not to be missed… 1. Bung Ban Fai A rocket in a parade during Bung Ban Fai festival (Shutterstock) One of the most spectacular festivals in Thailand, Bung Ban Fai, or rocket festival, is more than just a giant fireworks display. This ancient tradition marks what Thai people hope will be the start of the rains which are so crucial to their rice harvest. There are several myths as to why these phallic-shaped bamboo tubes, filled with gunpowder and charcoal and decorated with a serpent creature called Nagas, are fired into the sky. One is that only when the gods are in love will the rains arrive. In order to encourage romantic antics, parties take place across Thailand and these giant rockets – some of which are over 9m high and contain more than 100kg of gunpowder – are projected into the sky. ....
Text by Claudio Sieber and Rachel Kwek Images by Claudio Sieber Every Buddhist male in Thailand needs to attend a monastery of their choice twice a lifetime: once before 20 years of age and again after that. Most Thais embark on this spiritual path when they are around 20 years old whereas the Shan typically do so from 7 to 14 years old. The Shan ethnic group inhabits Mae Hong Son and other northern provinces in Thailand like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The majority of Shan (known as Tai Yai in Thailand) are Theravada Buddhists who observe Poy Sang Long – a rite of passage that marks the ordination of young Shan boys as Buddhist novices. In Chiang Mai, the annual ceremony lasts three days, whereas in Mae Hong Son, it lasts five days. ....