Yasothon: Rocket Festival, Chedis and Khit Pillows

In Ban Si Than, the making of khit pillows unfolds step by step: from sewing the pillow covers to shaping and filling them, and finally producing the finished pillow. The village is known for this handicraft; visitors can watch the production and buy pillows directly on site. This means the focus is not only on the finished craft, but also on the process behind it.

Khit Pillow Craftsmanship in Ban Si Than

To get there, take Highway 202 between kilometer markers 18 and 19 to reach Ban Si Than. Turn right onto a paved road and follow it for another three kilometers. If needed, confirm the route locally before your trip. Anyone interested in textile handicrafts can get a firsthand look at the individual steps involved in Ban Si Than and buy the finished product directly where it is made.

Ban Fa Yat: Tradition on the Chi River

In the Ban Fa Yat community, Malai Khao Tok garlands woven from puffed rice are brought to Wat Ho Kong as Buddhist offerings. The garlands combine a specific material and craft technique with a religious purpose. This tradition is clearly distinct from the community tourism activities, which also include boat and raft trips on the Chi River.

The community tourism food offerings include frog curry with herbs, chili paste with fermented fish and herbs, fish larb, and fish soup made with fish from the Chi River. These dishes give local cuisine its own place alongside river trips and religious traditions. Together, they show different aspects of community tourism in Ban Fa Yat without requiring a visit to any particular restaurant or a specific tasting date.

Chedis and Religious Traditions

Phra That Yasothon is a revered chedi in the Lao style, estimated to be more than 1,200 years old. It enshrines sacred relics of Phra Ananda, one of the Buddha’s most important disciples. At Phra That Ku Chan, a different form of religious significance takes center stage: the shrine is revered by people from Yasothon and neighboring provinces. A ritual water-pouring ceremony is held there every year.

That Kong Khao Noi is an ancient Khmer chedi featuring a Buddha image made of brick and stucco. During the Thai New Year celebrations in April, the Buddha image is ritually bathed. The three religious sites can be distinguished by their different features: Phra That Yasothon is associated with an estimated long history and relics, Phra That Ku Chan with an annual ceremony, and That Kong Khao Noi with a Khmer chedi and a Thai New Year ritual.

Rocket Festival and Phaya Khan Khak Museum

Yasothon Province is known for the Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival, celebrated at the start of the rainy season. In Mueang Yasothon, the Phaya Khan Khak Museum features displays about more than 500 species of toads worldwide, as well as frogs, bullfrogs, and other amphibians in Thailand. Alongside religious sites and local traditions, visitors can therefore choose a seasonal festival and a museum with a clearly defined subject.

Two dates are particularly important for travel planning: the Rocket Festival is celebrated at the start of the rainy season, while the Buddha image at That Kong Khao Noi is ritually bathed during the Thai New Year celebrations in April. If you plan to attend either event, check the relevant dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Amphoe Loeng Nok Tha, Maha Chana Chai District, Nai Mueang, Nakhon Nayok, Kalasin, Narathiwat, Tak, Bueng Kan.

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