The Thung Sri Muang Festival in Udon Thani

The Tung Sri Muang Festival (or Thung Si Muang) is one of the biggest annual festivals in Udon Thani and one the most important ones too, for the Thai people at least. As far as I can make out, there is no religious significance to the festival. The main objective of the festival is to honor King, hence it begins a few days prior to the Kings birthday. It is also an opportunity for citizens of Udon Thani (an the rest of Thailand) to support and encourage the expression of the local culture and Chinese mixed culture blending together.

It starts on the 1st December every year and runs for between 12 & 15 days, although I am not sure why the duration changes year on year. To open the festival, a large parade is held through the city centre starting at the Rajabhat University (Prince Prajak Monument Roundabout), at 2:00pm and lasts for about 2 hours, as the parade makes it way up to the Fountain Roundabout, Clock Tower Roundabout and west along towards Nong Prajak Park. Exactly where it finishes I am not sure as I have never followed the parade much beyond the Clock Tower. This first parade is one of the highlights of the year for me, packed full of traditional Thai lots of ladies dressed up and dancing along the city streets. The second parade is on the 5th December, which celebrates the Kings Birthday, where another (but smaller) parade is held on along the same route).

The Tung Sri Muang Festival (or Thung Si Muang) is one of the biggest annual festivals in Udon Thani and one the most important ones too, for the Thai people at least. As far as I can make out, there is no religious significance to the festival. The main objective of the festival is to honor King, hence it begins a few days prior to the Kings birthday. It is also an opportunity for citizens of Udon Thani (an the rest of Thailand) to support and encourage the expression of the local culture and Chinese mixed culture blending together.

It starts on the 1st December every year and runs for between 12 & 15 days, although I am not sure why the duration changes year on year. To open the festival, a large parade is held through the city centre starting at the Rajabhat University (Prince Prajak Monument Roundabout), at 2:00pm and lasts for about 2 hours, as the parade makes it way up to the Fountain Roundabout, Clock Tower Roundabout and west along towards Nong Prajak Park. Exactly where it finishes I am not sure as I have never followed the parade much beyond the Clock Tower. This first parade is one of the highlights of the year for me, packed full of traditional Thai lots of ladies dressed up and dancing along the city streets. The second parade is on the 5th December, which celebrates the Kings Birthday, where another (but smaller) parade is held on along the same route).

The festival itself is best described as a huge market which is held in the grounds next to the City Pillar Shrine. Loads of clothes, kiddies toys, fashion jewellry, leather goods, food, food, and more food, and a whole host more products are available in one large area. My personal thoughts are as to why this happens, as everything available for this fortnight period, is available all year round anyway, just not at this location. I have seen some entertainment for the younger children, such as dodgem cars, bouncy castles etc but not a vast amount for adults unless you like Thai ‘Pop’ music pumped out almost karaoke style from a local band playing live on a stage. Carabao (Thai ‘rock gods’) come to UdonThani every year to play live, and this probably draws the biggest crowd at any point during the festival. There is a small charge to see them play but at 60 baht, it is a mere drop in the ocean. If you have never heard Carabao, here is a link to YouTube so you can hear them. The festival also acts as a meeting place for large social gatherings, and somewhere to talk (when the music allows), and of course eat or snack

A word of caution…during the Carabao ‘gig’, the young Thai men, no doubt well fuelled by alcohol, tend to start fighting each other, perhaps to settle old scores. My advice would be to steer clear of gatherings of young men, if you are attending, or you may get caught up in it, albeit accidentally.

Source: udonthaniattractions.com

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