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Nan Provincial Boat Racing
Boat racing in Nan began more than a hundred years ago. Initiatively, the races might have been as competitive games during the Songklan Day when the rule of Nan left his residence. Later boat race began to be held during festivals such as on the food lots ceremony (Boon Salakkapat), a monastic fair, the temple organized boat racing by sending invitations true believers for joining the race. The purpose was to gain the harmony and fun for participants.
At present, the main annual boat races in Nan are held during the robe giving and Tan Khuay Salakkapat offering to Wat Phathat Chang Kham, held annually after Buddhist Lent, which falls at the end of October or the beginning of November every year, a boat racing festival takes place in the Nan River in front of the provincial community. This is regarded as a big fair where several long boats, each carved out of a single tree trunk, decorated all over with various coloured. It is promoted by the Province as an annual fair in Nan. |