ja_mageia

Today saw the start of the 182nd Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair in Samut Prakan. This takes place every year five days after the full moon in October. It goes on for twelve days and twelve nights and includes mandy sideshow games as well as a lot of really delicious food. The event started today with a parade of the sacred red cloth through the towns of Samut Prakan and Phra Pradaeng. The red cloth was then brought to Phra Samut Chedi to be wrapped around the pagoda. Last year the guest of honour was the then Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. This year we had the Minister of Interior, Mr. Chavarat Charnvirakul. He is the leader of the Bhumjai Thai Party and was also the caretaker Prime Minister briefly last year.

When P.M. Somchai came to Samut Prakan last year, the yellow shirt street protests were at their highest level. I remember last year that there were hundreds of riot police on standby but they weren't deployed. Despite all the security, I didn't have any trouble last year taking any pictures of the P.M. However, things were different this year. This was one of the few opportunities that the media were given to take a clear picture of the Minister leading the procession carrying the red cloth around the temple. For most of the time there was a dozen or so security guards blocking our way. It is nice of them to invite these big name people, but really this procession is for the people of Samut Prakan. The riot police and soldiers that were deployed around the temple meant that only a limited number of local people could take part.