Chiang Kham - A Tai Lue Festival - 2017

DavidFL

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The Tai Lue are one of the many ethnic groups living in North Thailand that make the North such a fascinating place to ride a motorbike around.

Originally from S-W China, the Tai Lue has one of the oldest recorded histories, with the Lue Kingdom in Yunnan in 1180. In 1570 this Lue Kingdom was divided into 12 tax collection regions now known as Sipsongpanna.

Conflicts between competing kingdoms plus battles with the Burmese saw many Lue migrate south to the North of Laos, Thailand & Myanmar.

In North Thailand the 2 centuries of wars between Burma & Siam also saw much of the ravaged & depopulated. When the Burmese were defeated King Kawila from Chiang Mai set about capturing Lue to re populate towns in the North. In 1805 10,000 Yong from Muang Yong were settled in Lamphun. Nan was repopulated starting from the early 1790s. In 1790, 585 families from Muang Yong were settled in Nan. In 1812, another 6,000 war captives from Muang La, Muang Phong (in Sipsongpanna) and from Luang Phu Kha (northern Laos) were resettled in Nan. Some later came voluntarily because of civil war & anarchy in Sipsongpanna in the 1830s. A civil war in 1836-37 between two aristocratic factions over precious elephants from Laos saw a group of Lue from Muang La (in southern Sipsongpanna) to seek safety in Nan. They established three villages near Thawangpha - Nong Bua, Ton Hang and Don Mun. Later others followed & there are now more than 50 Lue villages in the area.

From Nan many Lue also settled in Phayao province – Chiang Muan, Pong, Chiang Kham.
Chiang Kham is now recognized as the Lue Cultural Centre of North Thailand; & they usually have an annual Lue Cultural festival in March.
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In 2017 the festival was centred on Phrathat Sop Waen temple.
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as with all good festivals they often start with merit making at the wat.

The money trees came in all shapes & sizes
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more to come...
 
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DavidFL

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In the grounds adjoining the temple there is a "fair ground" set up for displays on Tai Lue culture - clothes, weaving, food, dancing.
It's a beautiful friendly, happy scene with proud Tai Lue people.
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Lue weaving
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absolutely beautiful weaving

Some special dishes
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Dancing shows by various schools
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Senior citizens
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Lue beauties
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a parade & a night show to come
 

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DavidFL

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The main parade is on the Saturday afternoon.
It was a long parade with many different Lue villages - communities participating, all with their distinct Tai Lue costumes with beautiful colours & stunning women. (IMHO Lue women are the best looking women in North Thailand, & they win more beauty contests than anyone else in the North.)

It took a long time for the villagers to arrive & gather
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There was heaps of time for selfies ++
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more to come..
 

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DavidFL

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Different village groups
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DavidFL

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A few parade "stars."
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Excited onlookers
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DavidFL

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A few beauties & classics
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only a night show to come.
 

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DavidFL

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The night time show officially gets under way
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There are multiple dance shows presenting various ethnic costumes, representing the inhabitants of Chiang Kham district - Thai, Lue, Hmong, Yao, Shan, Pa O & Chinese .
You probably never notice this that much just riding through, but the hills & surrounding areas of Chiang Kham are populated by many different peoples. Chiang Kham really is a bit of a melting pot for different ethnic peoples.

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The shows
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The crowd enjoying the show Tai Lue style
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A Lue entertainer & MC
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Lue belle of the night
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The Lue senior citizens get it on
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An absolute super spectacle of Lue culture & the unknown beauty of Chiang Kham.
Dont miss Chiang Kham's annual Lue festival.
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For anyone interested Ban Thi, on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, but in Lamphun province, also has a smaller Lue festival next month, a couple of days before Songkran I think it is. Maybe 10-13 April I think.

Some Lue links on GTR

In Doi Saket there is a Lue Cultural Centre
Doi Saket -pottering around - the Tai Lue

In Chiang Khong there is a Lue Museum
Chiang Khong - Khamu New Year - The Tai Lue Lai Kham museum - a CK meander

Sri Dornchai in Chiang Khong has a Lue festival every year
Ok Phansa - Tod Kathin Festival - 2015 - Sri Dornchai - Chiang Khong.

Muang Sing in Northern Laos usually has a Lue festival in November
Chiang Mai - Muang Sing (Boun That Xieng Teung festival) - Return.

Wat Si Lom Yen, S-W of CHiang Khong usually has a huge Kathin festival in October every year
Festivals in The Top North for Ok Phansa.October 2012.

Nan is full of Lue temples
Nan Temples

Chiang Kham is at the start of R1148, one of North Thailand's most popular biking roads.
It is also on the GTR Golden Triangle Loop map.
Golden Triangle Map
 
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Jurgen

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A great story and a fine place to observe how the Lue are keeping their culture and traditions alive ... and yes, the North Thailand's ethnic diversity is a great enticement to travel around the "Golden Triangle" regions.
 

DavidFL

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Researching the Tai Lue history in North Thailand I stumbled across a bit of history of the festival in Chiang Kham.

The event is called the Subsan Tamnan Tai Lue (Tai Lue traditional culture festival) & started in 1994 at Chiang Kham.
Many Tai Lue villages from throughout the country have now participated, such that a organization the Samakhom Tai Lue Haeng Phrathet Thai (National Tai Lue Association) was established.

A local MP from Chiang Kham, Khun Ladawan Wongsriwong, was vice-minister of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, became the sponsor of the group to promote the organization of the national level.

National Tai Lue Association came in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun and Nan province.

In 2004 and 2008, Subsan Tamnan Tai Lue was held in Mae Sai where the Chiang Rai branch office is situated, and in 2007, it was held in Doi Saket where the Chiang Mai branch office is situated.

In 2005, the Tai Lue from Sipsong Panna, Laos, and Myanmar were invited to Chiang Kham and "Subsan Tamnan Tai Lue Lok" (International Festival of Tai Lue traditional culture)” was held, but it is basically the opportunity when Tai Lue people in Thailand gather as well as the annual festival, Subsan Tamnan Tai Lue.


In 2020 I wonder now if the budget is stll there & if Khun Ladawan Wongsriwong is still an MP?
 
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DavidFL

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The TAT Festival Calendar for July 2023 shows

Tai Lue Culture Festival @ Wat Phrathat Sob Waen Chiang Kham District, Phayao.
15-16 July 2023
Wat Phrathat Sob Waen: Temple of the Tai Lue Culture, Chiang Kham District, Phayao

This event honours the Tai Lue ethnic community and their distinctive traditions. Activities include cultural performances and folk dancing with 35 parades showing the way of life of the Tai Lue people, and a Tai Lue market.