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| PHETCHABUN |

Situated right in the heart of the country
some 346 kilometres from Bangkok, Phetchabun
borders on three regions, the North, the
Central and the Northeast. The central part
of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin
with mountain ranges running along both
the western and eastern sectors. Because
of the fertility of the land, Phetchabun
has always been an agriculturally productive
area. The very name of the province actually
means the land of crops and foods.
Today, Phetchabun is
a province with rich tourism potential.
Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous
and forested areas and it has a history
of richness and prosperity for more than
1,400 years. As and Sukhothai styles have
been discovered. Phetchabun is administratively
divided into the following districts:
Muang, Lom Sak, Lom Kao, Chon Daen, Nong
Phai, Wichian Buri, Si Thep, Bung Sam
Phan, Wang Pong, Nam Nao and Khao Kho.
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Sweet
Tamarind Day Sweet tamarind is grown
mostly in Phetchabun. Sweet Tamarind Day
is thus organised in Phetchabun to celebrate
the harvest of this fruit. This day is
also called Phetchabun’s Agricultural
Day. During the festival, farmers bring
their sweet tamarind to sell at reasonable
price at Phetchabun’s provincial athletic
field where contests of sweet tamarind
and other crops are held. Besides this,
there are other agricultural exhibitions
and entertainment organised during the
event.
The Bathing of Phra
Buddha Mahadhamaracha Festival or Um Phra
Dam Nam Ceremony This event is annually
held on the fifteenth day of the waning
moon in the 10th lunar month or during
the Sat Thai period, in September. Phra
Buddha Mahadhamaracha is a highly revered
ancient Buddha image of Phetchabun. The
image was found in the Pasak River by
a group of farmers four hundred years
ago and it was then taken to be housed
in Wat Trai Phum. According to a legend,
the Buddha image was disappeared twice
from the temple and was later found in
water. It was said that the Buddha image
itself had wandered out of the temple.
Therefore, the ritual bathing ceremony
is held. The ceremony starts at 1 p.m.
The image is carried around town and put
under a tent in Wat Trai Phum, so Buddhists
can pay respect to it and stick gold leaf
on its body. In the evening, prayers are
chanted. At night, there are various kinds
of entertainment. The next morning, people
make merit as it is Sat Thai Day. Foods,
including Krayasat, and other necessities
are given to monks. The Buddha image is
then taken to be immersed in the Pasak
River by the governor of Phetchabun and
traditional dances are performed to show
respect to it. After the ceremony, the
water in the river is regarded as sacred.
As a result, plople swim in it or take
the water to drink before the boat racing
begins.
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