The Phaya Yommarat Procession Festival (Bang Phra Songkran Festival) is a one-of-a-kind tradition believed to be unique in the world. It is a cultural heritage that the Thai people and the residents of Bang Phra, Si Racha, Chonburi take great pride in. This is a long-standing tradition founded upon faith and belief, and it is held to preserve and continue the ancient customs passed down by their ancestors to the present day. During the festival, a worship ceremony for Phaya Yommarat is held, followed by the sending of Phaya Yommarat into the sea. The people of Bang Phra believe that this is a way of letting sorrow, grief, and illness drift away with Phaya Yommarat, while welcoming the good fortune that follows
This Phaya Yommarat Procession tradition takes place during the Songkran Festival, as Songkran marks the Thai New Year. The villagers create a statue of Phaya Yommarat and conduct an offering ceremony to the local guardian spirits. After the ceremony, the image of Phaya Yommarat is turned toward the sea and released into the water. It is believed that this ritual helps ward off misfortune and allows evil things to drift away with Phaya Yommarat into the sea, enabling the villagers to live in peace and harmony throughout the year.
The Legend of the Phaya Yommarat Procession Tradition
According to local legend, the people of Bang Phra were originally fishermen. As the community was located along the coast, fishing was the primary occupation of most villagers. Their only means of transportation for making a living at sea was a small rowing boat. Whenever the sea became rough and the winds were strong, accidents often occurred, resulting in the loss of villagers’ lives at sea. One day, a severe outbreak of malaria and dengue fever struck the Bang Phra area, causing many villagers and their domestic animals to fall ill and die. At that time, there was virtually no way to cure these diseases.
One day, a villager dreamed of a way to bring an end to the epidemic. In the dream, it was revealed that if the villagers wished to survive and remain safe from the disease, they would have to work together to create an effigy representing Phaya Yommarat and prepare offerings to worship him. Afterward, the effigy was to be carried in procession around the village as a means of warding off misfortune. The villagers were also instructed to gather together and perform a ceremony of apology and repentance. Finally, the effigy representing Phaya Yommarat was to be set adrift in the sea and allowed to float as far away as possible.
The dream became reality. When the villagers followed the instructions revealed in the dream, the illnesses that had afflicted the village disappeared, and from that time onward the villagers were able to live together in happiness. This event led the people of Bang Phra to develop deep faith and reverence toward Phaya Yommarat, giving rise to the Phaya Yommarat Procession tradition, a tradition regarded as unique in Thailand and unique in the world. There is also a local belief that if, in any given year, the worship ceremony and procession of Phaya Yommarat are not held, that year will see a large number of deaths occur.
At present, the Phaya Yommarat Procession tradition continues to be observed every year through the unity and faith of the people of Bang Phra. The 17th and 18th of April each year have been designated as important days for the Phaya Yommarat Procession ceremony. The ceremony is held to drive away evil things and to send the effigy of Phaya Yommarat out to sea, allowing all misfortunes and undesirable things to disappear into the sea.
