During the year we have many colourful festivals and events you can either watch or join in with. Most of these festivals are held according to the lunar calendar so the date changes each year.

Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair The main event of the year is the Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair which is held on both sides of the river. This is a celebration of the chedi for nine days and nine nights commencing the fifth waning moon day of the 11th lunar month. In preparation for this important event, many people work together in sewing a large red cloth to wrap around the chedi. The event starts with a parade on the east bank of the river. Students from all around the province take part. Starting at the City Hall, the red cloth and the large parade winds itself through the streets of Samut Prakan before ending back at the river. Here the red cloth is transported across the river to Phra Samut Chedi on the west bank. Here, the cloth is ceremoniously paraded clockwise around the temple three times. Members of the Rungjaeng family are the only ones allowed to climb up the steep chedi to wrap the sacred cloth around it.

The temple fair itself then starts. It is a massive event taking place in more than one location. Not only are there stalls around Phra Samut Chedi but also on the east bank where the city hall is. In the evening several of the main roads are closed to traffic and people from all over the country come to buy and sell. There is much to do for children and adults. Just about everything can be bought here and there are plenty of games to play too. For example shooting and big wheel rides. There is a large variety of food on offer. From fried grasshoppers to shark fin! The roads are so packed with people that it takes forever to walk a few paces.

The Lotus Flower Receiving Festival takes place at Bang Pli. This festival has been handed down from one generation to the next. It is held annually one day before the end of the Buddhist Rain Retreat (otherwise known as the Buddhist Lent). This is on the morning of the fourteenth day of the waxing moon in the eleventh lunar month (usually September/October). Traditionally, local people line up on both sides of Klong Samrong and throw lotus flowers onto the boat carrying a replica of a revered Buddha image. This image is called Luang Poh To and is kept at Wat Bang Pli Yai. [MORE]

The Songkran Festival on April 13 is celebrated throughout the province and features processions, merit-making at the temples and a lot of water-splashing.

The most colour festival during the year is Loy Krathong held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (usually in November). This is a festival to pay respects to the Mother of Water to ask for forgiveness for polluting the water in the past. Loy means to float and a krathong is a kind of bowl. On the morning of the festival a parade takes place through the city centre right). Krathongs of all shapes and sizes are placed on floats and carried by school children. The very large krathong to the right is made using banana leaves. The base is from the stem of a banana plant. Incense sticks, a candle and flowers are placed inside the krathong. During the evening, thousands of people go down to the river or their local klong (canal) to float their krathongs. They light the candle and incense sticks, say a prayer and then float it on the water. It is a wonderful sight with flickering lights bobbing up and down on the water and fireworks exploding above.