Annual Festivals

Tak Bat Dhevo (The Dhevo Alms Giving Fair)

This most famous of Uthai Thani festivals in held on the first day of the waning moon of the 11th month, or on the day after the end of the Buddhist Lent, usually in October.

the Venue is Sangkat Rattan Khiri temple and the mountain represent heaven-from where the Lord Buddha descended after he went up to observe Lent and preach a sermon to his mother. Legend has it that the god Vishnu built a siver, gold and crystal stairway for the Buddha to walk down. The day signifies the the opening of the eath, heaven, the human realm and the underworld, or hell.

the festival is observed and celebrated by the people of Uthai Thani and the neighboring provinces. Over 300 monks and novices-come carrying alms bowls-descend the 449 steps from the top of the mountain while poeple offer alms of steamed sticky rice balls wrapped in banana leaeves as well as uncooked rice and cried food.

the Ivory Decorated Altar Festival


Back in the Ayitthaya period (1350-1767 Ad), the people of Uthai Thani Province had to capture wild elephants to send to the capital as a tribute. Elephants signify the rich and abundant forests and wildlife of the region. They were also used to haul logs and when the elephants died the owners would keep their tusks and use them to decorate altars. The more ivory one had, the richer one was, and ivory formed part of the inheritance fro one's children.

The festival began with a procession from various Chinese shrines while the townspeople decorated their altars wit ivory and put them in front of their houses to welcome the gods and goddesses. These altars have no Buddha images, only ivory and flowers are used for aesthetic purposes, as well as to show the status of the owners.

Recently, as part of a new promotion, the province has asked the local people to re-enact the Dhevo Alms Giving ceremony by having a contest of decorating altars with ivory. This event is held only in Uthai Thani.


The food and Sweet Tray Festival

The food tray comes ina round or square shape, made of wood or metal, and contains about six bouwls of food of various kinds.

During certain Buddhist festivals people put food in bowls to be carried to the temple ina pair of trays suspended from a bambboo pole hoisted on one shoulder. This tradition is stil practiced today. In The viallges of Nongkae in Muenag District, Thapho , and Huay Rob in Nong Kha Yang District, people prefer bowls with lids on them. Sometimes, the bowls are made of glass or a king of elaborate ceramic painted in five colors, known as benjarong.

More and more people have begun to select the best and most beautiful containers for their alms food and they have would up staging a contest, which is very impressive for tourists . In this way, the tradition has been carried on.