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Phon Beating Festival
This is a famous festival of the province. This popular Buddhist
tradition is held at the end of the Buddhist Lent when people have
a Buddha image procession by land or water. Phatthalung normally
has a land procession accompanied by drums to give the procession
a good rhythm. When a procession from one temple passes another
temple, the procession participants will challenge the temple people
to come out and see who can beat drums to give the best rhythm.
This tradition has evolved to become a grand festival of Phatthalung.
It is held every October. Processions will go take Buddha images
throughout Phatthalung city. The festival is held at Phatthalung
Provincial Stadium and Saen Suk Lam Pam beach in Amphoe Muang. Activities
of the festival include drum competitions of temples in the province,
dramatic arts, boat procession contest, folk plays, religious ceremonies,
water sports on Lam Pam Lake such as boat races and water boxing,
exhibitions, and arts and culture demonstrations of Phatthalung
and nearby provinces like reed mat making and coconut shell products.
Thale Noi Bird Watching Festival
This festival was first held in 1998 as a special activity to mark
the Amazing Thailand project and promote the most important tourist
destination of Phatthalung. The festival consists of eco-tourism
activities lasting 1 month (14 February-15 March) when there are
plenty of birds and Thale Noi is at its most beautiful. The festival
takes place in the Thale Noi Non-hunting area. Daily activities
include boating on long-tailed boats to observe flora and fauna,
local performances, agricultural produce for sale, demonstrations
of native life, and an assortment of local products for sale.
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