Phon Lak Phra Festival
is the most important festival of the province. This popular Buddhist tradition is held at the end of the Buddhist Lent when people have a Buddha image procession by land or water. Phatthalung normally has a land procession accompanied by drums to give the procession a good rhythm. When a procession from one temple passes another temple, the procession participants will challenge the temple people to come out and see who can beat drums to give the best rhythm. This tradition has evolved to become a grand festival of Phatthalung. It is held every October. Processions will go take Buddha images throughout Phatthalung city. The festival is held at Phatthalung Provincial Stadium and Saen Suk Lam Pam beach in Amphoe Muang. Activities of the festival include drum competitions of temples in the province, dramatic arts, boat procession contest, folk plays, religious ceremonies, water sports on Lam Pam Lake such as boat races and water boxing, exhibitions, and arts and culture demonstrations of Phatthalung and nearby provinces like reed mat making and coconut shell products.
• Local flavor from food to handicrafts
Local Culture and Traditions
Manora or Nora is southern Thailand's native cultural performance. Phatthalung is regarded as the birthplace of Nora. It is surmised that Nora influence spread over from South India together with Lakhon Chatri (another type of performance), but the dance postures were adapted to the liking of the people in each region. The Nora performance hall has a raised stage similar to that of a Likae show. A band and vocals sit in front of the stage. The dancers wear close-fitting trunks and a long sash, with cloths draping the torso like a tail. In addition, the dancers wear a sash of gold and diamonds, an embroidered neck brace and long nails. The Nora has 12 main postures that are all lovely. The dancers also sing ad lib or according to verses that are memorized. The Phatthalung College of Dramatic Arts has preserved this important art form. Several local troupes also put on shows in the province.
Talung (shadow play) is a regional performance of southern Thailand that is as popular as Nora. Like Nora, Phatthalung is also regarded as the birthplace of Talung. Each shadow play figure is made from raw cowhide that has been dried and then cut into shapes. Each figure is ornately printed with designs, with black usually covering the entire figure. Thinner hides will have coloring. The figures are held up by bamboo sticks, with the mouth and hands movable in tune with the narration. The Talung hall has a thatched roof and three walls. It has a white cloth screen. Behind it is where the figures are kept. The entire troupe of musicians and puppeteers number not more than 8 persons. Musical instruments include pipe, drum and gong. The figure performance is the duty of the head of the troupe who both operate the figures and narrate. The stories are from literature or newly written tales.
Local products of Phatthalung are mostly from cottage industries like basketry, the most famous being reed mats that are very common in the Thale Noi Non-hunting Area. Others are shadow play figures of Bang Kaeo and coconut shell products of Ban Khok Wua in Chai Buri. Popular souvenirs are caramel of Tambon Nang Lat, dried banana and Indian beech candy of Amphoe Muang, and dried shrimp of Pak Phayun