The Naga Fireball Festival is the celebration of an ancient mysterious phenomenon that occurs annually on two particular nights on the Mekong River.
The Naga that lives under the river in a kingdom called “Muang Badan”, watching over the people living in the Mekong basin. Once a year this mythical seven headed King of Serpents spits fireballs into the sky resulting in the Mekong lights or “bung fai paya nak” as called by the locals.
One theory suggests that methane gas trapped under the riverbed finds just the right conditions around this particular time of year to release and get spontaneously ignited upon surfacing, while another theory suggests plasma physics which explains combustion when surface electricity is discharged into a solution.
Whatever the reason might be, witnessing the fireballs rise out of the river is truly a remarkable sight. The best place to watch this occurrence is in the town of Nong Khai in Northeastern Thailand. You could also take a bus further out to Phon Phisai or Rattanawapi.
The Naga Fireball festival is something that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Come and witness a miracle of light!