The Lotus Throwing Festival’s roots are thought to have been sewn by the many Mon people who settled in Samut Prakan province, just south of Bangkok, after fleeing their war-torn homeland in what’s now southern Burma during the 1700s. In the old days, Bang Phli residents received festival-goers by offering them the freshly picked lotuses that thrived in the area. Rab means “to receive”, though the festival has also become known as Yon Bua, or “Throw Lotus”, for obvious reasons. In front of Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai along the Samrong Canal in Bang Phli district, the festival still takes place each year.
Rab Bua coincides with Awk Phansa (literally: “Out of the Rains”), a Thai holiday marking the time when monastics are free to travel again after spending the monsoon months in study and meditation. Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai houses Luang Phor Toh, a sacred Buddha image that’s said to have miraculously floated down the Chao Phraya river centuries ago. During the festival, a replica of the image is taken for a morning cruise along the canal, symbolising the re-emergence of the monastic community after the rains.
Three days of festivities includes folk theatre, beauty contests, a boat decorating competition, boat racing and a rowboat tug-of-war among other activities. The main event is an elaborate floating procession that gets underway early — by 07:00 — on the final day and features intricately decorated wooden boats rowed by local people in traditional Thai costumes. Thick crowds throw lotuses at all of the boats, but everyone makes sure to have a handful ready as the one carrying Luang Phor Toh gets close.The frenzied faithful nudge and stretch to grab as many lotuses as they can from centrally located flower bins. Even after living in tightly packed Bangkok for a couple of years, this was one of the most crowded scenes we’ve experienced. Expect a fair bit of good-natured jostling.