Culture with Krabi

Thai people are a highly tolerant and hospitable people. It is very easy to get along with them. They believe in Live and Let live ideology. Women have considerable status in society. Even though men folk seem to have upper hand in every decision making, women enjoys considerable privileges as well. Trading transactions are normally managed by womenfolk.

Krabi’s populace represent a multi ethnic multi racial society. It is a mix, mélange or mosaic of various ethnic groups. Each ethnic group in Krabi represents a page in the annals of immigrants to the area from time immemorial.

Krabi is not over populated just as Thailand in general is. As the country is poised in the middle of the states in the area, plenty of migrations have taken place in the past centuries overlooking geographical boundaries.

In the late 19^th and 20^th century, people from Chinese mainland, especially the southern area entered Thailand. Even though they came in for supplementing the local labor, they got assimilated into the society. You can see a cross section of the Chinese society in Krabi as well. Chinese rituals and cultural aspects were absorbed in parts by the Thai society as well.

There is an ethnic group called Sea Gypsies or Chao Ley whose origins are not known. But they have been natives in Krabi for quite some time now. They have been a nomadic tribe depending mainly on fishing, collecting shells and diving for sustenance.

75% of the total populace is of Thai origin, 14% are Chinese and the remaining 11% includes all other ethnic minorities including Indians.

Information : http://www.krabi.com/culture.htm

FESTIVALS & EVENTS.

December 5^th is King’s birthday. Thais love their king and the day is celebrated nationally.

April 13^th to 15^th – it the festival period for the whole nation. Songkran is the Lunar New Year as per Thai Calendar. Buddha images are washed on the day and great processions are held. Monks and elders are shown special respect by one and all in the community. In very many ways it has got the similarity with Deewali celebrations in India. People move around and as a mark of respect water shall be sprinkled may be even to the extent that coloured water shall be showered in gaiety.

May 15^th – Sree Budhdha’s birthday. Candle lit processions are held in local Wats ( Buddhist temples ).

6^th and 11^th Lunar months – on the full moon day, in Ko Lanta, there is the religious rite of Setting Adrift of Chao Le Boats. The function is worth watching.

Asanha Puja in July - this festival is on the Full Moon day.

August 12^th – Queen’s Birthday. This is celebrated as Thailand’s Mothers’ Day.

Loi Krathong in November. – One of the most beautiful and moving sights are related to this annual festival. This day marks your venture to cast off all your troubles and tribulations with the hope having a new prosperous future. The good luck for the forthcoming year is wished by discarding some symbols of the badluck such as a piece of your finger nail and some tufts of hair in folded banana leaves and floating them off in the ocean or running water.

Andaman Sea Festival – this marks the beginning of the tourist season. Water sports and cultural competitions are held on this occasion.

Information : http://www.krabi.com/events.htm