Witness a Candle-Lit Cultural Melee at Bangkok's Annual Golden Mount Fair
Held on the 12th lunar month of the Thai calendar each year the Golden Mount Fair is one of the most highly anticipated cultural events of the year. Dominating the surrounding landscapes from atop of Wat Saket the Golden Mount or 'Phukhao Thong' is a sacred quarter of Bangkok's Banglamphu district. The massive chedi at the venue rises like a phoenix dwarfing its immediate surroundings with its 100 metre high 500m base diameter edifice. Believed to house a number of precious relics of Lord Buddha the Wat Saket Buddhist monastery is one of the holiest sites in all of the Thai capital and the venue which plays a central role in the annual Golden Mount Fair in Bangkok.
Celebrated on the 11th day of what is known as the "waxing moon", the nine-day long festival falls on the month of November according to the Georgian calendar. Attracting visitors from all across Thailand and Buddhist devotees from far and wide the festival is a sacred occasion on which pilgrims can pay tribute to the holy relics enshrined in the temple premises. During the fair the Golden Mount is covered in a red cloth as hordes of pilgrims crowd to the temple grounds to mark the hallowed occasion. One of the most magical traditions of the event includes the candle light procession up the mountain during the evening hours on the full moon night.
Pilgrims making their way to the coffer and paying their tributes marks the beginning of festivities as the days following the procession see the temple fair begin with equal fervour. During the fair period the temple ground is littered with a variety of performers, vendors, animal shows and other spectacles of every conceivable nature. Bauble stalls and Likay performances are highlights at the event which is also a haven for food lovers. A plethora of food stalls and quaint eateries also crop up across the venue as engaging rides and bric-a-brac events are also organized. A carnival spirit prevails throughout the latter half of the Golden Mount Fair in a great contrast to the toned down and religiously inclined first days of the festival.
Travellers on the lookout for a Bangkok hotel in the heart of the Thai capital will be more than pleased with the elegant Anantara Bangkok Sathorn. Offering visitors a wide range of contemporary amenities and delightful indulgences, this is one luxury hotel Bangkok counts among its best accommodation providers.
Celebrated on the 11th day of what is known as the "waxing moon", the nine-day long festival falls on the month of November according to the Georgian calendar. Attracting visitors from all across Thailand and Buddhist devotees from far and wide the festival is a sacred occasion on which pilgrims can pay tribute to the holy relics enshrined in the temple premises. During the fair the Golden Mount is covered in a red cloth as hordes of pilgrims crowd to the temple grounds to mark the hallowed occasion. One of the most magical traditions of the event includes the candle light procession up the mountain during the evening hours on the full moon night.
Pilgrims making their way to the coffer and paying their tributes marks the beginning of festivities as the days following the procession see the temple fair begin with equal fervour. During the fair period the temple ground is littered with a variety of performers, vendors, animal shows and other spectacles of every conceivable nature. Bauble stalls and Likay performances are highlights at the event which is also a haven for food lovers. A plethora of food stalls and quaint eateries also crop up across the venue as engaging rides and bric-a-brac events are also organized. A carnival spirit prevails throughout the latter half of the Golden Mount Fair in a great contrast to the toned down and religiously inclined first days of the festival.
Travellers on the lookout for a Bangkok hotel in the heart of the Thai capital will be more than pleased with the elegant Anantara Bangkok Sathorn. Offering visitors a wide range of contemporary amenities and delightful indulgences, this is one luxury hotel Bangkok counts among its best accommodation providers.
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