Beautiful lanterns and masked Khon actors highlighted Najomtien’s annual festival to honor the giant Buddha chiseled into the side of Khao Chee Chan.
Santi Phawai, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and Chonburi Deputy Gov. Thammasak Rattanathanya opened the Dec. 15-16 event at Big Buddha Mountain featuring local and Thai arts, cultural performances, Buddhist sermons and a lantern parade.
The festival, organized by the Chonburi Tourism and Sports Department and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration, is held annually to promote cultural tourism and reinforce strength in the community. It also pays tribute to HM the late King Rama IX and late Supreme Patriarch Nyanasamvara.
In addition to the parade, the festival featured a Ramayana Khon mask play, an “acid sand” ceremony and the throwing of ‘kabinlapat” spears by 100 Thai artists.
The royal compositions of HM late King Bhumibol also were played by the Royal Thai Navy Band while artisans performed a “thepbanthng” dance.
