Isaan Travel and Destination Guide

Events in Isaan

Events  Most festivals and important events in Isaan are connected either with the annual rice-planting season or the Buddhist religion. However, greater exposure to the rest of the country is slowly bringing more contemporary events to the region.

Buddhist Festivals

  • In February, the annual merit-making fair sees people from all over the region and even Laos, flock to Phra That Phanom. The riverside Buddhist structure contains a relic of the Lord Buddha and is the most revered shrine in the Northeast. This  7-day celebration involves religious merit-making and a great variety of folk entertainment.
  • The Dok Khun-Siang Khaen Festival in Khon Kaen coincides with Thai New Year in April. The festival includes religious merit-making, offering alms to Buddhist monks and paying homage to revered Buddha images, as well as floral float processions, beauty contests, and traditional folk dancing.
  • In June, Phi Ta Khon is celebrated in Loei. Young men dress up in colourful costumes, masquerading as spirits to tease villagers as they parade a sacred Buddha image through the province. In the temples, Buddhist monks recite the story of the Buddha's last incarnation before attaining Enlightenment.

Non-religious Festivals

  • In March 2008 the inaugural Isan Food Festival and culinary masterclass took place in Khom Kaen. The festival also featured a Thai Cuisine Masterclass Weekend, which took place at the Sofitel Raja Orchid hotel. The Isaan region is renowned for some of the kingdom's tastiest cooking and the festival is expected to grow, attracting foodies both from Bangkok and abroad.
  • At the Yasothon Bun Bangfai Rocket festival in May, villagers construct gigantic home-made rockets and ceremoniously fire them into the skies to guarantee plentiful rainfall during the forthcoming rice-planting season. The 2-day festival calls for plenty of revelry, including beauty parades, rocket processions, folk dancing and stage shows.
  • The world-famous Elephant Round-Up in Surin takes place in November and features some 100 trained elephants who re-enact wild elephant hunts, display natural skills, and perform feats of strength and intelligence. As part of the festival, local people recreate a parade of medieval war elephants.
  • Another popular event is the his annual  2-day kite flying festival, which takes place in Buri Ram in December. The competition features traditional Thai kites, and includes surrogate battles of the sexes between male Chula and female Pakpao kites. 
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