ja_mageia

บ่ายวันนี้หน้าที่ว่าการอำเภอพระประแดง มีพิธีเปิดการแข่งเรือชิงถ้วยพระราชทานสมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดาฯ สยามบรมราชกุมารี โดยนายสุรชัย ขันอาสาผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดสมุทรปราการเป็นประธานในพิธี การแข่งขันเรือของที่พระประแดงนี้ได้สืบต่อกันมานานเป็นเวลากว่าร้อยปี นิยมจัดการแข่งขันกันในช่วงปลายฤดูฝน โดยในปีนี้จัดขึ้นระหว่างวันที่ 8-10 ตุลาคม 2552 ผู้ที่สนใจสามารถติดตามชมได้ที่หน้าที่ว่าการอำเภอพระประแดง ริมแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา

Long-boat racing is a traditional festival that is usually held towards the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat. These races happen all over the country. Some of the biggest take place at Ayutthaya, Phichit, Phitsanulok and Narathiwat. They also have boat racing at Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakan where boat races have been taking place for over 100 years. In the olden days, that district had no roads and everyone moved around by boat. The local people in Phra Pradaeng would then get together for celebrations to mark the end of the rainy season on the fourth day after the full moon in October.

The annual boat racing in Phra Pradaeng takes place from 8-10th October 2009. They are racing boats in front of the District Office on the mighty Chao Phraya River. We went there this afternoon for the opening ceremony which was led by Mr. Surachai Khanasa, the Governor of Samut Prakan. The trophies for the competition were donated by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. These were paraded through the town first on a float together with a portrait of the Princess.

I watched the racing in the VIP enclosure for a while and then walked up the waterfront to where all the local people were watching. To be honest, it wasn't as exciting watching this race as it was the boat races in Bang Phli last week. This is mainly because the course was not only longer but the river was obviously a lot wider. As a consequence we were further away from the action. You needed a really good long lens to take any pictures. There was also a long period between races as it seemed to take a long time for them to get ready. I am not sure why they didn't get the next racers ready straight away.

The next boat races in Samut Prakan will take place in front of Phra Samut Chedi on Monday 12th October 2009. We will be there taking pictures and video and I will post them here soon. We have posted more pictures of today's boat races over at the Samut Prakan Forums.