Thao Thepkrasatri-Thao
Sri Sunthorn Fair : The fair is held on 13 March
annually. Many activities are orgainzed to commemorate
and honour the historical heroic dedds in protection
of Thalang City and Thailand from the enemy.
Seafood
Festival : This festival is organised in May to
publicize Phuket's famous seafood and invite visitors
to come to Phuket during the rainy season. Some features
in this festival are a procession, sales of local
products and seafood, exhibition on the life of the
Sea Gypsies, beauty contest, and cultural performances.
Po To Festival :
It is a tradition of the residents of Chinese origin
of Phuket. The festival falls on the 7th Chinese lunar
month or the 9th Thai one. The people would set up
an ancestor-worshipping altar adorned with various
offerings and turtle shaped cakes of various sizes
made from flour and coloured red. The turtle is, for
fhe Chinese, a symbol of longevity; hence, offering
turtles to the ancestors is the extension of one's
own life and is form of great merit making.
Phuket Triathlon
Festival : This international event is organised
at the scenic are of the Laguna Phuket in October.
The sport events comprise of 1.8 kilometres of swimming,
55 kilometres of cycling and 12 kilometres of jogging.
Sea Gypsy Boat Floating
Festival : This tradition is observed during
the 6th and 11th lunar months. The Sea Gypsies at
Rawai Beach and Sapam Village float on the 13th day
of the waxing moon. However, another group living
at Lha Cape does the same on the 15th day of the waxing
moon. This ritual is to get rid of bad luck similar
to Loi Krathong of the Thais. The boat is made of
a light wooden trunk (Zalacca Wallichiana).
People would clip their nails, hair and make a human
doll and put it in the boat to float into the sea
that symbolizes getting rid of bad luck. They would
enjoy a "Roy Haeng" dance around the float
before the floating.
Phuket
Tourism Season Opening Festival : This event is
orgainsed on 1 November at Patong Beach to welcome
the new tourism season. Some features in the festival
are offering alms to monks in the morning, water sports
competition, and a beauty contest of international
tourists.
King's Cup Regatta
: This was organized for the first time in 1987
AD to hounour His Majesty the King on his 50th Birthday
Anniversary. Since then, the event has been organised
annually on the King's Royal Birthday. There are sailboats
from many countries participation in the competition
at Nai Harn Beach for the Royal Cup.
