The much-anticipated Sithan KKU Festival 2024 has officially begun, bringing with it the vibrant spirit of Loy Krathong Festival. On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Khon Kaen University launched the festival with a series of captivating events. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkham, Vice President for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, led the university’s leadership, faculty, staff, and students in a morning alms-giving ceremony to nine monks. This was followed by the sacred ceremony of inviting Phra Upagupta and paying homage to Luang Por Pra Sri, marking KKU’s 50th anniversary, and a tribute to Luang Por Sai Khao.
As the sun set, the festival’s grandeur unfolded with the “Procession of the Sacred Buddha’s Relics,” a ceremonial homage to the relics of Lord Buddha. The official opening of the Sithan Festival 2024 dazzled attendees with a series of breathtaking performances. Highlights included the “Naga’s Faith Spectacles,” a cultural homage by local artists, and the “Spirit of Phi Bak Huad,” a mesmerizing local spirit dance. Students from the Faculty of Fine Arts enchanted the audience with performance of “Narmada River: Homage to the Buddha’s Footprint,” leaving a lasting impression on tourists and participants before everyone joined in the heartwarming Loy Krathong ceremony.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkham emphasized that this year’s festival, celebrating Khon Kaen University’s 60th anniversary, continues the legacy of previous years with the theme “The Spirit of Isan, Sithan Mutelu.” This theme taps into the global trend of belief-based tourism, which has significantly boosted economic growth worldwide. Khon Kaen University has embraced this strategy to promote tourism, aligning with its development strategy for 2025-2028, aiming to provide academic services that create economic value for the community through the creative economy. The festival showcases Isan culture and beliefs in Buddhism, Brahmanism, and animism in a contemporary and creative manner, blending traditional customs with modernity to preserve and enhance cultural heritage in Thai society. The festival features numerous highlight activities for everyone to participate in over three days and nights.
“Our parade remains as grand as ever, and this year we have a giant fountain krathong display, ‘Naga Celestial Residence,’ measuring 15 meters, for everyone to see. There will also be a 30-meter fireboat display, ‘Buddha Sakka Phra That Phanom Chedi,’ (Paying Homage to Phra That Phanom) along with over 15,000 floating lanterns and 16,000 beautiful lanterns for photo opportunities,” he added.
Miss Thanicha Thidrassamee, a first-year student in the Thai Language Department, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, shared her experience after attending the event. She had heard about the Sithan Festival since high school and was eager to participate as a Khon Kaen University student. She was not disappointed, as the decorations, activities, and parade gave her goosebumps throughout.
“I was very impressed, especially with this year’s theme related to Mutelu, as it seems to attract tourists from all generations and increase interest among foreigners. Personally, I’m delighted to be part of preserving Isan culture, traditions, and beliefs,” she said.
The Sithan Festival 2024, spanning three days, offers a variety of activities for tourists to experience local traditions, including krathong and grand krathong processions, the KKU Carnival parade, and the distribution of commemorative cloths by Phra Ajarn Suriyan Khosapanyo. There will be performances by top Morlam (Isan local performance) bands, traditional Morlam Klon, shadow puppet shows, and the “Sithan Naruemit” dance drama, featuring over 200 performers from Siam and Isan. The festival also includes the 6th “Rising Star Luk Thung Modindaeng” folk music contest and the 12th “Fon Lam Khaen Contest” for traditional Isan music.
Additionally, the Sithan Festival will host a Creative Walking Street, allowing young people to showcase their talents through cosplay competitions, free stage and random dance performances, and the ‘MISS KKU ANGLE’ pageant. A special highlight is the ‘MISS AQUA 2024’ pageant, where Miss Anna Suangamiam, MISS UNIVERSE THAILAND 2022, will participate as Nang Noppamas (Loy Krathong Beauty Queen) on November 15, 2024. Don’t miss the event from November 13-15, 2024, at Bueng Sithan, Khon Kaen University.
