Dragons and Lions and Cobras invade

 







Sakon Nakhon

Dragon Festival begins in the morning (Dec 11)

I've watched the parade almost every year of the 12 years I have lived here. 

It's really worth your time to watch if you are in town. I consider it one of the top 5 events in Sakon Nakhon

 

Cotton for your ears is highly recommended.  There'll be plenty of fireworks.

Starts very early (7am) from the Chinese temple.  Most of the action takes place on Rat Phatthana Road, where the downtown bus station and the green corner restaurant are located.

Nightly shows at the temple take place every night at 7 pm each night of the festival.

This is not a holiday, most businesses will be open as usual.

Stopped by the temple this evening.  I expected to see people getting ready with face painting and such.  I was a bit too early for that.  Most people will not arrive until after the football game Thailand hosts Philippines.

Sakon Nakhon

TAT Secret (they forgot to tell you) of the Dragons and Lions and Serpents

The red banners are already hanging across many major streets entering Sakon City, announcing the annual "Chinese Dragon, Lion and Cobra Festival" held each year on December 11.    It's one of my favorite festivals  in this city, unfortunately it's also Thailand's best kept secret. In 12 years of residing in this town I have not seen it listed in any travel brochure. Google it: "Sakon Nakhon Dragon Festival," or Sakon Nakhon Chinese festival. You'll find two entries and a video by Tom of isaan-live and a few posts by me, nothing else.   Preparations for the event are already underway with nightly practices at the Chinese temple, as in this 2008 video The beating of the sticks is to scare away cobras ??  In past years I've watched many of the neighborhood kids practice with the sticks.  It does take a bit of practice, it can be quite painful During the festival there are three nights of entertainment and art exhibits at the Chinese temple I strongly recommend seeing the shows, they are an experience of a lifetime. If you are sensitive to noise I recommend earplugs or cotton, it does get noisy at times.  Parade participants stay overnight at the temple on the night before the parade  for face painting and other preparations.  Participants receive free meals furnished by temple parishioners for all practice evenings and the overnight sleepover

Before the temple performances and the parade there will most likely be some public lion dance performances in town.  I should have the information of date and time sometime this month.

The parade departs the temple at 6 am on December 11. The best location to see the parade is the route before it arrives at the downtown bus station. From there the parade splits up into smaller groups to cover different parts of the city. The dragons enter Chinese businesses in a ritual to offer good fortune for them in the coming year. The Chinese dragon is the symbol of good fortune.  Some of what you see might be a bit unnerving     Be safe, keep alert !!

In late morning the Dragon Slayer comes to the rescue at the town square

Sakon Nakhon Dragons, Cobras and Pythons sighted

Almost missed one of my favorite Sakon Nakhon events. I was about to update my calender when I realized what day it was. Arrived at the Chinese temple where ceremonies had already begun.

First thing I spotted was a Sakon Nakhon license plate tourist police.

I didn't realize we had them here. Must be a fairly new arrival to the area.

Was a bit perplexed why they are called tourist 'HAM.'  Made me wonder if it had something to do with western name calling of police men.  Nah, I don't think so.

My brain wasn't quite up to speed yet, I was wondering why street sweepers were standing by for this parade.  I didn't see any elephants or horses

Then I realized why.

Notice all the cotton filled ears !! They came prepared !!

           

I seem to forget every year to bring ear plugs.  

The parade sounds a bit like a combat zone with small arms and artillery sounds, as whiteness in this 2008 video

The festival lasts through December 16 

with daily evening performances at the Chinese Temple (Near Golden Pond)

Sakon Nakhon Dragon Festival 2011

Not too many dragons came out of hiding this year. it seemed like a  a very downsized celebration.
No participant cobra performers, no painted faces.
Female participants were in their daily garb, no fancy dressed ladies.

Even the starting times had been changed.  I was  almost two hours early when I arrived at the temple. The police detail responsible for the safety of the event hadn't yet arrived.

You gotta admire and respect those Sakon Nakhon guys in brown. 

They did a fine job insuring that the day ended without accident or injury marring the celebrations.
Juggling uninterrupted traffic and a parade.  On top of it all frequent deafening firecrackers.

 

I arrived early at the temple. Folks where eating breakfast and drinking coffee.
I received dozens of very friendly 'hello's and a cup of coffee.

Trinket sellers accompanied the parade from start to finish. 
Didn't whiteness any sales.

It was really a fun day

Someone could make money selling earplugs at these events

Protective masks and goggles would probably also sell well

It was really a fun day

 

You could identify businesses wishing to be blessed, by offerings tables in front of their business

Unlike a bull in a glass shop, these dragons caused no breakage when they entered a business

Kids searched for unexploded fireworks after each celebration

View the  entire Album of the Sakon Nakhon 2011 Dragon Festival