Boat Racing

Long Boat-Racing Festival is arranged every year during Thai Buddhist Lent Period (about September or October) on days that river tide is highest. The festival will be held by local people beside rivers from provinces which big rivers pass by such as Phisanulok province, Phichit province has Nan River and Ang-Thong province, Ayutthaya province, Pathum-Thani province has Chao-Phraya River. Boats, which they use on the festival, will be chose and made from auspicious trees of each area's believing. They train and prepare rowing-crews to be most fit and ready for being their agent of the festival.

Long Boat-Racing Festival is one of Thai traditions which has been arranged continuously since Ayutthaya time (about 600 years ago) for preparing and making morale, courage and strength to rowing-crews, as every Thai men were power of the country, for a war which could began anytime from aggression.
Presently, Long Boat-Racing Festival is one of Thai sport. There are awards, cups from members of royal family of Chakri Dynasty or agent including honor and reputation. So, it is a prize of victory that everyone try to get but somehow it shows in a way of enjoyment and happiness, not only rowing-crews but the members of the area and audiences too. Therefore, Long Boat-Racing Festival that is arranged every year in different provinces, especially in Phichit province which this year is arranged on 2-3 September and Phitsanulok province which this year is arranged on 16-17 September, is very interesting and joyful festival of Thailand which audiences, Thai people and visitors, can touch. Besides, audiences also can see each beautiful decorative long boat that be made from each local believing and idea and also can feel the simultaneous step and intending of rowing-crews for victory of their own locality

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