Wat Phong

Rating: 4.6/5 (5 votes)

Operating day: Daily

Operating time: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Wat Phong Bo Kaeo, Na Mun, Nan. Originally, Wat Phong was called Wat Pong, located in the area of Ban Hua Thung, Village No. 9. Locals referred to it as the "Mon Mon Monastery." The people who made merit at this monastery came from Ban Hua Thung, Ban Huai Chuak, and Ban Huai Ho. Later, the monastery was relocated and built at Pak Kong Kao Si.

 

Today, it is situated in Ban Na Yang, Village No. 7, near the homes of Teacher Phin Inpata and Mr. Chai Wetchamano. As the surrounding communities grew and expanded, the villagers unanimously agreed to move the monastery from Pak Kong Kao Si and construct it again at Ban Na Yang Tai (currently Village No. 11).

 

That area later became the village hall of Village No. 11. Afterwards, residents of Ban Pong, Ban Na Yang, Ban Pa Kha, Ban Nap Nong, and Ban Na Bon discussed and agreed to establish a new temple directly opposite Phra That Chom Chaeng. It is believed that the temple originally stood together with Phra That Chom Chaeng, and currently, the land opposite the stupa is privately owned, as the temple could not provide official land documents (Nor Sor 3 or SK 1) to verify ownership.

 

Eventually, the temple was relocated to its present location, as the devout community saw that the area was flat, surrounded by forest, and rich in wildlife.

 

At one point, a villager was hunting a wild boar and was injured, dying in a field located to the south of the temple. This area became known as Ban Pa Kha and Ban Na Yang due to the presence of makha (Afzelia) and yang (Dipterocarpus) trees to the northwest and south. There was also a marsh rich with fish that locals called Po or Pong, hence the temple was named Wat Pong.

 

Later, to improve temple administration and ease communication, especially as official documents and letters were often mistakenly sent to Wat Bong in Na Noi District, a monk decided to change the name from Wat Pong to Wat Phong, which remains its name to this day.

 

Phra That Chom Chaeng is located to the east of Wat Phong, within Ban Pong, Village No. 4, Bo Kaeo Subdistrict, Na Muen District, Nan Province, covering an area of approximately 2 rai (about 0.8 acres). It is the sacred stupa of Wat Phong. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but according to oral traditions passed down by elders, a wandering monk once traveled from Uttaradit Province and arrived at the site at dawn.

 

He pitched his klod (monk's umbrella tent) and practiced meditation in that area. During the night, he reportedly saw a glowing orb rising from where the stupa now stands and believed there was a hidden silver-gold vessel underground. He then built the stupa over the spot and named it Phra That Chom Chaeng ("Stupa of the Radiant Peak").

 

Later, a monk named Phra Bunlong came from Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province. Upon seeing the stupa in a state of disrepair, he consulted with the village headman, community members of Ban Pong, and local monks to restore it.

 

The annual worship ceremony for Phra That Chom Chaeng is held during the Month of Five Pēng (Makha Bucha Day), organized mainly by the Wat Phong faith community. Because it is a localized event, few outside the community know about the stupa or its history. In the past, the celebration included launching homemade rockets (bong fai), floral offerings, and bathing the stupa.

 

Today, Phra That Chom Chaeng is part of Wat Phong, located at No. 30, Ban Pong, Village No. 4, Bo Kaeo Subdistrict, Na Muen District, Nan Province. The worship ceremony is still held annually on Makha Bucha Day.

 

The celebration includes morning almsgiving, Dhamma practice, candlelit processions (wiang thian), traditional performances such as salor, saw, seung (Lanna musical arts), various stage shows, a khrua than parade (offering procession), rocket launches during the day, and firework rockets at night. Traditional hot air lanterns (khom loy) are also released using fire smoke, preserving the region’s cultural heritage.