Surin Elephant Tak Bat Buddhist alms ceremony for Lent.

[DavidFL]

Holed up in Surin, killing time before I could get a room in Ubon because of the wax candle festival, an employee in the 90s Surin Pub asks me if I'm going to the 6am "tak bat" elephant alms ceremony in town tomorrow morning.

No, I know nothing about that. I was going to Ubon for the Wax Candle Festival, but can't get a room until after the festival is over.
Oh you didn't see the main elephant parade today either?
Nope, I was resting up in my room. I knew nothing.

But not being one to miss the moment, I was up at 5.30Am the next morning & on station downtown central Surin at 6.10AM.

The big wigs arrived somewhat later & the show got under way at 7.15AM, according to my first photo & sighting of the mighty Surin changs.

to be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

I admit I was completely ignorant of this festival in Surin, but there were Thai people from all over the country who came to it, to make merit in the morning giving alms to monks mounted on elephants, for the start of Buddhist lent.

It was a truly amazing event to witness and wander around amongst the giants with their revered monk passengers receiving alms from the hundreds of people lined up waiting.

Announcements over the PA system suggested people came from far away diverse places such as Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Songkhla, Phuket, Narithiwat. There's no doubt it is on the Thai merit making tourist event calendar.

Incredible the scene was & I was amazed at the liberal attitude permitting everyone to walk around wherever they wanted amongst the parade & elephants. Surin you guys rock!

Should anyone be interested, the festival should always coincide with the start of Buddhist lent = full moon in July.
And it should be 2 days. First day with a big elephant parade in the street, the next morning "tak bat" alms giving.
The Ubon wax candle festival is on at the same time, but as I found out you need to book a room weeks, if not months, ahead.
If I had a choice I would go for Surin every time over the Ubon wax festival.

Surin Accommodation

Martina Hotel Resort A big sprawling resort hotel, with all ground floor rooms & parking right outside your door. Super friendly happy, efficient reception staff. Prices start @ 400 / 450 baht & the rooms are very good value for money. Clean, nice furnished & spacious with good...

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Surin Restaurants

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I've been on the road for almost a month now, with the trip focus being the old Khmer ruins in lower Esarn.
I've got hundreds of photos & multiple posts to make, but this elephant tak bat festival in Surin has been a total surprise to me.
I was heading to Ubon for the wax festival, but did not book a room i advance as I have been on a nomad's wandering route, making it up as i go.
The festival today has been the peak of the trip for me, so I'm cutting out the last bit planned -Ubon / Mukdahan / NKP & starting my return to Chiang Khong tomorrow. There are a few more ruins to see on the way back, but I feel a need to curtail this exploratory trip on a high now.

Let the good times roll.