From May 10 to May 12, one of the most memorable and colorful celebrations, the Rocket Festival, also known as Boon Bang Fai, will take place in Thailand. This ancient ceremony sees locals from the northeastern region of Isan honoring the rain god Phaya Than by launching homemade rockets into the sky. Airspace over the region is closed, and hundreds of rockets of various sizes and shapes soar upwards, attracting over 50,000 visitors annually. In recent years, there's even been an international competition for the most beautiful, fastest, and most powerful rocket, with teams from Laos, Cambodia, South Korea, and Japan participating.
Preparation for the festival takes place in utmost secrecy long before its commencement – teams design and build their rockets (bang fai) over several months, carefully concealing the process from each other. The rockets are made from bamboo, paper, plastic, wood, and are filled with gunpowder. Sometimes glass and metal are used. The sizes range from relatively small to impressive constructions that inspire awe. An average rocket reaches nine meters in length and contains up to 25 kg of gunpowder, with some weighing over 100 kg. Regardless of the size, the goal remains the same: to ensure a bountiful harvest, avoiding floods and droughts.
At the festival, you can see Bung Fai Kilo rockets with one kilogram of gunpowder, Bung Fai Muen with 12 kilograms, and Bung Fai Sen, packed with 120 kilograms of explosives. There are also parades with floats and demonstrations of traditional attire, as well as folk dances.
What to expect at the Rocket Festival in Thailand 2024?
After their construction is completed, rockets are mounted on huge floats to participate in a rocket parade that would even make Kim Jong-un jealous. Folkloric dance groups and people in beautiful national costumes also join the procession. Some men cover their bodies in white powder and wear frog masks in honor of the Frog King Phaya Khang Khok (more on this below).
After the parade, participants and their supporters gather at a large fair with stalls selling souvenirs, food, and local rice wine generously poured. The higher the rockets soar into the sky, the better the weather promises to be for the harvest. Bets are placed, and if a launch fails, members of the losing team are thrown into muddy pools – sometimes innocent spectators become victims as well.
In addition to the rocketeers, the true stars of the festival are the locals, reveling in unrestrained joy to loud music in bright masks and flamboyant homemade costumes. As a fertility festival, cross-dressing and sexual innuendo are not just welcomed, but expected and obligatory.
This noisy, thrilling, memorable, and fun spectacle is not without its dangers. Rockets sometimes fly in the wrong direction, and there have been instances in the past where participants and spectators have been injured or killed. Always maintain a safe distance of at least 200 meters during launches and watch from under tree cover or other structures – after all, what goes up must come down.
Origin and Legend of the Rocket Festival
Fertility rituals at the Rocket Festival are believed to date back to pre-Hindu times, with rockets being introduced in the 9th century following the arrival of gunpowder in Southeast Asia. Like many important Asian celebrations, it has its own legend. When the rain god Phaya Than was angered by an offense, he withheld rain from the earth for seven years. A war broke out between him and the Frog King, or Phaya Khang Khok, another Buddhist mythical figure. When peace was finally restored, the Rocket Festival became a reminder to Phaya Than of his promise to send rain to earth.
Where is the Rocket Festival held in Thailand?
The Rocket Festival is traditionally celebrated by ethnic Lao in Thailand's Isan region, as well as in Laos. In Isan, where the largest celebrations take place, the most famous festival is in Yasothon, the administrative center of the province of the same name. Other notable Rocket Festivals in Isan are held in Nong Khai, Sisaket, Kalasin, Roi Et, and Maha Sarakham.
In Yasothon, on the day of the rocket launches (Sunday), head to Phaya Than Municipal Park. Smaller rockets launch continuously, with a larger model soaring every half hour. For the parades with floats and dance groups, visit Cheng Sanit Street on Saturday. Yasothon also has the somewhat surreal Giant Frog Museum, surrounded by stalls selling food and drinks, along with traditional dance performances and other entertainment.
Dates of the Rocket Festival in Thailand 2024
Celebrations typically last about three days – from Friday evening to Sunday evening, just before the start of the planting season. In Yasothon, Thailand, this year the festival runs from May 10 to May 12. You can see the procession of floats with rockets accompanied by musicians and dancers, while on the last day, Sunday, launches occur from morning till evening.
Other Rocket Festivals take place in:
- Roi Et Province: Pathum Rat Rocket Festival; Phanom Phrai Rocket Festival; Bun Pha Wet Festival.
- Kalasin Province: Air Rocket Festival in Kut Wa.
- Maha Sarakham Province: Phayakkhaphum Phisai Rocket Festival.
- Khon Kaen Province: Kranua Rocket Festival.
Dates of these other Rocket Festivals vary, so it's recommended to check them before traveling.
Accommodation during the Rocket Festival in Thailand
During the Rocket Festival, hotel prices rise rapidly, and rooms are usually booked long before the event. If you can't find accommodation in Yasothon, you can stay in Ubon Ratchathani – it's less than two hours away by bus (98 km). Ubon Ratchathani is an hour's flight from Bangkok or nine hours by train.