Phra Buddha Maha Dhamaracha, characterized as a fully decorated image of Lob Buri period, is an ancient and the most respected Buddha image of Phetchabun. It was miraculously found in Pasak river by local fishermen more than 400 years ago and then was taken to be placed at Tri Phum temple. The legend tells that, one year later, it had been disappeared from the temple and was found floating in the river at the first found place.
This amazing story is led to the holy traditional festival of Phetchabun, Um Phra Dam Nam Ceremony, or Phra Buddha Maha Dhamaracha Bathing Ceremony. The festival is begun by the Buddha image parade around the city and then brought back to Tri Phum temple. The Phetchabun Governor, representing all Phetchabun people, will carry the Buddha image and dive into the Pasak river facing 2 directions, up-stream 3 times and down-stream 3 times. This ceremony is believed to bring auspiciousness to everybody and prosperity to the land.
In the year of 2014, the festival will be greatly organized between 22-26 September and the bathing ceremony will be on 23 September, the 15th day of the 10th waning moon. The festival will be composed of divine worship ceremony, altar decoration contest, land and river processions, bathing the Buddha image, against water-flow boat racing, delicious food arcade, light and sound presentations and other amusements. The locations are Tri Phum temple, Bot Chanamarn temple and Phechabura Buddhist Park.