Chak Phra, or the hauling of the Buddha image, symbolises the Lord Buddha’s return to earth after he spent three months during the monsoon season in heaven to preach Buddhism to his mother. The Festival normally falls on the first day of the 11th lunar month (October)
To ensure the event’s splendour, local communities and temples begin preparing for the Chak Phra Festival at least a month in advance. They join in decorating floral floats on boats and trucks in the shapes of animals in the Buddhist legends, which are believed to be vehicles of the Lord Buddha. These elaborately-decorated floats will take part in the hauling of the Buddha image procession.
The festival also marks the end of the Buddhist lent. Monks until this point have been largely confined to their monasteries. Now they are allowed to ask for alms. At Chak Phra the monks appear to receive special offerings called Thot Pha Pa.