Celebrating the Year of the Tiger in style

Vithoon Pungprasert

The Nation

 The central province of Nakhon Sawan, where the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan rivers meet to form the Chao Phya river, is probably best known for the Pak Nam Pho Chinese New Year celebrations, the largest and most grandiose annual festival of its kind in the entire Kingdom. Next February, as the year of the ox gives way to the year of the tiger, the folk of Pak Nam Pho will bear witness to the biggest Chinese New Year party ever, as China and Thailand join forces for a string of festivities imported from Beijing. They will run daily from February 7 to 14.

 The line-up includes a spectacular thousand-hand Guan Yin (the goddess of mercy) performance, a New Year countdown fireworks display, plus light and sound shows and other cultural shows by Beijing-based and local troupes. The festivities will be broadcast live on Channel 9.

 Wijit Asawarat, chairman of the Pak Nam Pho Chinese New Year celebration organising committee, says the party will appeal to both and Thai and foreign visitors and encourages everyone to come along to the New Year countdown and enjoy the spectacular fireworks display.

 The organisers promise a mixed bag of local and foreign acts. Up to 200-plus performers will be flying in from Beijing. Set to run daily for eight days and nights, the thousand-hand Guan Yin performance, the most famous show in Beijing comes courtesy of the Tianlong Yuan troupe based at Beijing's Tianlong Hotel with its famed hot springs.

 Adding to the eight-day marathon of fun are a Tang Dynasty-style dance show, Chinese lantern dance, drum and acrobatic performances and other cultural shows. Food and refreshments will also be plentiful.

 Lending a helping hand in bringing the shows to Nakhon Sawan is the Chinese ambassador in Bangkok, Guan Mu. During a recent meeting with the ambassador, Wijit was offered generous support for the celebrations, which will ultimately help strengthen the ties between the two countries.

 The ambassador says China will be sending several senior government officials including the culture minister and his deputy to observe the celebrations. The ambassador himself is no stranger to Pak Nam Pho. Some 20 years ago when he served as third secretary and second secretary at the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, Guan Mu made a trip to Pak Nam Pho, where he was totally mesmerised by the vibes of the Chinese New Year party there. 

 "Those were the greatest and most spectacular shows I'd ever seen. The dragon show was so rousing and colourful. Chinese regards the dragon as an auspicious animal," says the ambassador.