Poi Lern Sip Ed Festival (Jong Para)

Poi Lern Sip Ed Festival (Jong Para Procession)

Jong Para in the Thai Yai dialect means a castle made of wood, covered with colorful perforated paper and decorated with fruit, flags and lights. According to custom, it is placed in the courtyard of a house or temple as a gesture to welcome the Lord Buddha on his return from giving sermons to his mother in heaven. The rite is held after the rains retreat from the full moon day of the 11th lunar month (October November).

Other activities to celebrate the occasion include dances in which the performers dress up like animals. This is based on the belief that in times gone by the human and animal kingdom were equally joyful on the return of the Lord Buddha and so joined together in a jubilant tribute to the Enlightened One.
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