AsiaRooms.com - Enjoy the Boon Luang Festival near Chiang Mai

AsiaRooms.com divulges anyone who is staying in Chiang Mai hotels during June should make sure that they allow time to visit the Loei province for one of the region's biggest celebrations.

Each year the Boon Luang Festival is held in June, with the main event taking place between June 12th and 14th.

Known as one of the biggest celebrations in the north of Thailand, the Phi Ta Khon Festival is the highlight of the Buddhist festivities during the Boon Luang period.

Locals dress up in ornate costumes featuring large masks carved from the wood from the base of a coconut tree.

The participants then dance and sing their way through the Dan Sai district of the province in a long procession that ends at one of the area's temples.

On the second day of the event, a similar parade takes place with bamboo rockets fired into the sky when the dancers all reach the temple.

Anyone staying in Thailand hotels may be interested to know that the origins of the festival are believed to stem from the tale of Buddha's last life.

Buddha was born as a prince in his final incarnation and after giving away a white elephant, he was banished from the kingdom.

When the king had a change of heart, it is said that the celebrations by the people were so loud that they woke the dead, who joined in the festivities.

For more information on this event visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand website or contact the organisation on +66 (0)4281 2812.

Posted by Delia Jones

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