Phuket Lak Phra processions set for 27 October
Two Buddhist processions will take place around Phuket Town on 27 October as Ratsada Municipality marks the end of Buddhist Lent.
Two Lak Phra Buddhist processions will take place around Phuket Town on 27 October as Ratsada Municipality marks the traditional end of Buddhist Lent.
The annual celebrations will be held at Wat Phithak Charoen Samanakit in Baan Tha Ruea Mai, near the Heroines Monument, and Wat Baan Koh Siray.
At Wat Phithak Charoen Samanakit, a ceremony to bless a decorated Buddha float or boat will begin at 7.20pm on 26 October. The procession will set off from the temple at 7am on 27 October and travel around Phuket Town.
At Wat Baan Koh Siray, an alms-giving ceremony will run from 6am to 7am on 27 October, followed by a procession around Phuket Town from 8.30am. A ceremony to bless the Buddha floats will take place at the temple from 7pm that evening.
Ratsada Municipality has invited residents and visitors to join the celebrations, which it says aim to preserve Southern Thai heritage, support Buddhism and encourage community participation.
Lak Phra, meaning “pulling the Buddha”, is held after the end of Buddhist Lent, known as Wan Ok Phansa. The processions feature Buddha images on decorated floats, boats or wheeled platforms that devotees pull or carry through local communities. The tradition is also known as Chak Phra in southern Thailand.
