Nakorn Phanom Festivals

Prathat Phanom Festival

Phra That Phanom Temple, Nakhon Phanom
This Festival, which last for about one week, takes place during the period of the full moon in February or early March. It is one of the biggest and most important festival for the people of the Northeast, both Thais and Laotians.

Annual Illuminated Boat Festival

Mekong River, Nakhon Phanom

The most important festival for the people of Nakhon Phanom, takes place around October 31 - November 4, during the period of the full moon, and marks the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat. This festival celebrates the time when the Lord Buddha returned to Earth, after spending the Buddhist Rains Retreat in Heaven. This day is called as "Wan Chao Lok" which means "The day the Buddha blessed the World". The people marked their showing of respect by illuminating their boats. This then became a local custom. During this week, there are Dragon Boat racing on the Maekhong River, and the end of the festival is marked by Illuminated Boats being paraded down river for all the people to see. These boats are made from bamboo and decorated with hundreds of lights.