Illuminated Boat Procession Festival in Thai Northeast set in late Sept

NAKHON PHANOM, THAILAND, September 26 (TNA) - International tourists are welcome to this year's Illuminated Boat Procession Festival and Red Cross Fair in Nakhon Phanom Province in the Thai Northeast, set to be held during September 28-October 6, marking the end of the annual three-month Buddhist Lent. Nakhon Phanom Governor Somchai Witdamrong presided a ceremony to worship the City Pillar Shrine and the Royal Statue of late His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, or King Rama V the Great, in the provincial heart on Tuesday, prior to the yearly grand Illuminated Boat Procession Festival cum the Provincial Red Cross Fair. The governor told reporters that the upcoming nine-day grand events are aimed not only to uphold his province's traditional culture, but also to express gratitude and loyalty to late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun through exhibitions on royal projects and activities. According to the governor, the highlight of the upcoming nine-day events has been set on the night of October 5, marking the end of this year's Buddhist Lent, when there will be a grand procession and a contest of more than 10 illuminated boats from all districts of Nakhon Phanom, with their 30-90 meters long, 20-50 meters high and 30,000-50,000 spectacularly-bright lamps, in the Mekong River. "Late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej paid a royal visit to Nakhon Phanom on November 12, 1955 and stayed overnight to watch an illuminated boat procession in the Mekong River, which is a lasting impressive remembrance for all in Nakhon Phanom", said the provincial governor. (TNA)