The Jong Para (Thailand Local Custom)

The Jong Para / The Monk's Temple
(Thailand Local Custom at Mae Hong Son)

The Jong Para : a welcome for the Lord Buddha's return to earth

       Having been to see his mother in heaven for 3 months, the Lord Buddha comes  back to the earth at dawn , on the next day after the Buddhist Lent.

      All Tai people (one of the Northern tribes in Mae Hong Son) hold this day as being the most important ,so they gladly prepare a welcome for the Lord Buddha. A beautiful wooden castle is built as a worldly abode for the Buddha, which also serves to make merit for the Tais' ancestors . It is an opportunity for the tribe to unite and preserve their religion for all time. The breathtaking castle is fashioned from bamboo and decorated with colorful papers, and finely crafted gold leaf fretting. The work showcases the unique Tai craftsmanship and is named "Jong Para", meaning "the monk's temple".

     The Jong Para have elaborate designs and many large local temples create a big impression with their skillful construction. At night, the Jong Para glow brightly and sparkle with colorful lighting.

The Tai Yai's Animal Dances

     On the 15th day of the 11th waning moon, the 'Goi Jod Day' or the last day of the End-of Lent ceremony, takes 1 on a decidedly festive air.  Celebrations usually begin by offering giant tree to the temple. The Tais, however use the wood of the native "Kia". In the past, a large trunk of the Kia tree was carried to the temple. Today, large trees are rare, so a bundle of small pieces of wood has become an acceptable modern-day substitution. In the evening the Tais will light a    fire using the Kia wood they have brought, to warm themselves in the cold winter night. They perform animal dances, which originate from the belief that animals will dance to welcome the Lord Buddha upon his return to earth. Many kinds of animal are represented, whether mystical, such as the half-bird half-woman Ginaree, birds, fish, butterflies and even worms. The dances are exotic and strangely beautiful. Some of the dances are performed at nearby temples, while some will simply dance along the streets.

     Today the governor of the Mae Hong Son Province considers it more practical to shorten the festival, while retaining its local color. This makes the festival even more interesting and fun–filled.