Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Praying Mon through a fiery haze at Phuket's Big Buddha

Phuket Big Buddha Celebration: Photo Special

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Big Buddha Photo Album Above

HUNDREDS of Mon people who live on and around Phuket visited the Big Buddha on Monday for a series of Buddhist ceremonies.

Most of the rites surrounded the molding of a celebratory Buddha image. The Mon traditionally wear red longeis and many of them chose to chant with monks on the eve of Thailand's Asamha Bucha Day holiday.

Western tourists mingled with the Mon as the ceremonies took place.

Wikipedia says there are eight million Mon in lower Burma, with another 114,000 based in Thailand.

The online reference source says: ''One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in present-day Burma and Thailand.

''In Myanmar, the Mon culture is credited as a major source of influence on the dominant Burmese culture.''

All day long, Mon were to be seen on the backs of trucks, in pickups and seung taus heading up Nakkerd Hill, close to Chalong Circle in the island's south, to the 45-metre Big Buddha.

Among those helping to mark the celebration, dressed in white as always, was Suporn Wanichkul, president of the Mingmongkol Faith 45 Foundation.

He is probably the foremost advocate of the Big Buddha and the contentment (mee kwam suk) he says can be found at the spot, 380 metres above sea level.

The Mon gathering was yet another example of the different traditions and cultures that exist on the island side by side, some without the recognition they deserve.

The Big Buddha has a garland of construction bamboo around the base now, with work continuing to complete the giant image in white jade.

Behind the beaches and the coral reefs, the Big Buddha is probably already Phuket's third most significant tourist attraction, and it has appeal all year, even on wet and windy days.

The views over both sides of the island from the top are spectacular, and Khun Suporn's claim that the hilltop is a source of mee kwam suk has never been challenged.

The changes on the winding six-kilometre road to the top come almost every day, with new restaurants and viewpoints being added and an elephant trekking camp now also prominent on the lower slopes.

The Big Buddha, Thailand's tallest sitting buddha, is expected to be completed in December this year.

More Big Buddha Plus Photo Albums

Phuket Set to Greet Kuan Yim: Photo Special
Photo Special An attraction with special appeal to Chinese visitors is to be built off Saphan Hin park in Phuket City: a platform out to sea that will house a statue of female deity Kuan Yim.
Phuket Set to Greet Kuan Yim: Photo Special

Makabucha at Big Buddha: Photo Special
Photo Special is one of the big days of the Buddhist calendar, an appropriate time to visit Phuket's own Big Buddha. Makabucha Day attracted many people to the top spot on the island to pray.
Makabucha at Big Buddha: Photo Special

Phuketwan Attraction of the Year 2008 Award
Photo Album Happiness probably is more important than success. At least, that's the view from 2008 and the view from the Phuketwan ''business'' award winner of the year.
Phuketwan Attraction of the Year 2008 Award

King's Birthday Photo Special: 60 Shot Album
Photo Salute Next year marks 50 years since His Majesty The King visited Phuket for the first time. Phuketwan commemorates the royal birthday with memories and a Photo Album.
King's Birthday Photo Special: 60 Shot Album

Phuket's Big Buddha Tops With Tourists
Phuket's Big Buddha stands at the top when it comes to tourist attractions, bringing more and more visitors to the island; Phuket artist takes on Manhattan; Charity golf day.
Phuket's Big Buddha Tops With Tourists

Phuketwan Latest News

Phuket Bars to Close Tuesday, Wednesday
Latest All bars and clubs in Patong and across Phuket are expected to shut for 48 hours from early Tuesday to respect key Buddhist holy days. The closure may surprise some tourists.
Phuket Bars to Close Tuesday, Wednesday

Phuket Chief Justice Strives to Improve the Law
Photo Album Being given a tour of the Phuket Provincial Court by the Chief Justice offers some insights into the legal system and a chance to see the mediation process in action.
Phuket Chief Justice Strives to Improve the Law

Phuket Drowning Toll Rises to 'At Least 30' in 2009
Latest Holidaymakers, residents and fishermen are among those who have drowned so far in 2009 in Phuket waters. The toll, including a dive boat tragedy, is well above recent years.
Phuket Drowning Toll Rises to 'At Least 30' in 2009

MediaWATCH: FM Faces Police Scrutiny
News Digest Thailand's Foreign Minister pressured over PAD protest and Asean summit on Phuket; North Korea vessel due home; Federer wins Wimbledon; Burma unmoved; black box found.
MediaWATCH: FM Faces Police Scrutiny

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Friday March 29, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter