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Open Days: Third lunar month every year

Opening Hours: According to the community’s ritual schedule

 

Thambun Klang Thung Tradition in Rayong is an ancient merit-making festival of agricultural communities in Rayong Province, passed down through generations. It reflects gratitude to Mae Posop, the rice goddess, and the dependence on nature after the harvest season. Held annually in the third lunar month, it brings prosperity, unity, and blessings of fertility to the people.

 

This tradition has two main forms: the merit-making ritual for rain, and the merit-making on the rice-threshing ground, also called the Third Month Merit. Both are carried out in open fields or village centers to allow everyone in the community to join together.

 

The rain-invoking ritual is performed when rainfall is scarce or irregular. Villagers set up a spirit shrine, place ceremonial umbrellas, and mold two clay snakehead fish (pla chon) to be placed near a pond or water source. Monks are invited to chant in the evening with the special “Snakehead Fish Incantation.” The following morning, offerings of food are made to the monks, ending with another rain-praying chant to complete the rite.

 

The rice-threshing ground merit, or Third Month Merit, is a thanksgiving for the new rice harvest. It is usually held in the communal rice-threshing ground or open fields. On the first evening, monks chant, while families prepare and roast “khao lam” (sticky rice roasted in bamboo). The next morning, villagers present offerings of food, unhusked rice, and khao lam to monks, symbolizing devotion and gratitude to Mae Posop.

 

Symbols of this tradition include the snakehead fish, representing fertility and abundance of water, and khao lam, representing prosperity, gratitude, and sharing. These acts reflect the close connection between people and their natural environment.

 

In modern times, some communities simplify the rituals, skipping the clay fish but continuing with merit-making and offerings. Still, the essence of honoring nature and strengthening communal bonds remains strong. The tradition continues as a living heritage of Rayong’s rural life.

 

When compared with other regions, such as the “New Rice Merit” in Northeastern Thailand, the roots are similar: honoring rice as life and relying on seasonal rains. The differences lie in local rituals, offerings, and community settings.

 

 

Answer: It is held annually in the third lunar month after the harvest, to offer new rice and pray for abundance.

 

Answer: The snakehead fish symbolizes fertility and abundance of water, making it a powerful offering in rain rituals.

 

Answer: Khao lam, roasted sticky rice in bamboo, is made from new rice and offered to monks as a symbol of prosperity and gratitude to Mae Posop.

 

Answer: Yes, many communities in Rayong still observe the tradition, though some have simplified the ceremonies.

 

Answer: While both honor rice and fertility, the Rayong tradition is unique for its clay snakehead fish and khao lam roasting.