In the northern town of Nan last week, in 35°C midday heat, a colourful procession of villagers wearing distinctive ethnic attire made its way to Wat Phra That Chae Haeng down a lengthy staircase, aside which a pair of naga sculptures stood like guardians. A number of classic wood litters carried replicas of a gold, bell-shaped pagoda as well as various Buddhist offerings such as Lanna-style flags and khan dok trees, all to mark the return of the annual seven-day Hok Peng Festival.
As legend has it, Phaya Kan Muang built a 55.5m-high pagoda in 1353 to house Buddha relics including hair and a left wrist which were obtained from Sukhothai. Every year, the Hok Peng ritual is performed to worship the relics ahead of the Full Moon of the sixth northern Thai lunar month, which this year fell last Monday.
