SURIN ELEPHANT ROUND-UP & ELEPHANT SHOW
SURIN ELEPHANT ROUND-UP & ELEPHANT SHOW
Date : November 19 – 22, 2009
At the elephant arena
SURIN ELEPHANT ROUND-UP RED CROSS FAIR
Date : November 14 – 25, 2009
At Srinarong Stadium
The majestic Thai elephant has long been a central element in Thai culture and has held a respected place in Thai history. A symbol of power and grace, the elephant was revered by the ancient kings.
Elephants have been prominently featured in Thai legend, literature, art and architecture, and during the reign of King Rama II, an image of the auspicious elephant, symbolic of the King, was featured on the flag.
In daily life, as man and elephant depend on each other, the elephant is treated as part of the 'family'. The everyday life of the Thai elephant and its keeper is the central theme of the world-famous Surin elephant round-up held annually.
The Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village in Surin Province is the home of the Kui, who, for centuries, have tended to and trained elephants for use throughout Thailand. These handlers have great respect for their elephants.
The majority of elephant owners and mahouts in Thailand today are descendants of the "Kui" tribe (or "Suay" in Thai). They are thought to have migrated from Cambodia to settle largely in the northeastern provinces near the Cambodian border. Known for their expertise in capturing, domesticating and training wild elephants, the life-long relationship of the mahout with his elephant is an integral element of Kui culture, tradition and the way of life. The elephant is his companion and a family member.
The Surin Elephant Round-up Show has been organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand since 1960 and has been well-received internationally.
| 08.30 – 11.00 |
Grand rehearsal for the Surin Elephant Round-up and Elephant Show
At the elephant arena |
| 09.00 – 11.00 |
Best Decoration Contest for the Elephant Banquet
At Phraya Surin Pakdee Srinarong Jang Wang Memorial Participants compete in a contest to select the most outstanding fruit-and-vegetable arrangements for the grand elephant feast.
Elephant Banquet Procession
The ‘works of art’ for the elephant feast will be displayed in six-wheel trucks. From 15.00 onwards, entries will be displayed for all to see in a parade which will proceed along the streets of the provincial centre of Surin before it arrives at its final destination, the Phraya Surin Pakdee Srinarong Jang Wang Memorial. |
| 19.00 |
Surin — ‘City of Elephants’ beauty pageant
At the Ptaisaran stage in Surin provincial centre |
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| 09.00 – 11.00 |
Welcoming Ceremony and Grand Elephant Banquet
Some 300 elephants will be taking part in the parade and welcoming ceremony. In addition to highlighting the intelligence and remarkable talent of Thailand’s domesticated Asian elephants, colourful cultural presentations and folk performances offer insight into the customs, beliefs and traditions of Surin. This includes folk music, traditional dances and rituals, such as the Apsara parade and the ritual offerings parade.
Jumbo Feast
A food fest for the elephants
An adult elephant needs a lot of food - equivalent to about 6 to 8% of its body weight each day. A full-grown 40-year old male weighs approximately 4,000 kg (8,800 pounds) and thus needs 250-300 kg of food every day. A baby elephant which weighs 80 to 100 kg (176-220 pounds) at birth, needs to eat the equivalent of 8 to 10% of its steadily increasing body weight. |
| 18.30 - 21.30 |
“The Legend of Prasat Srikhoraphum”
Light-and-Sound performance
Prasat Hin Srikhoraphum is a 12-century Khmer-style stone sanctuary situated in the sub-district of Tambon Ra Ngeang in the Sikhoraphum district of Surin province. |
| 08.30 – 11.00 |
Surin Elephant Round-up and Elephant Show
At the elephant arena |
| 18.30 – 21.30 |
“Legend of Prasat Srikhoraphum”
Light-and-Sound performance
The performance on the evening of November 21 will be in the form of a sit-down Chinese banquet. The actual light-and-sound performance starts at 21.00 hrs. |
| 08.30 – 11.00 |
Surin Elephant Round-up and Elephant Show
At the elephant arena |
TICKETS
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Ticket prices for the Surin Elephant Round-up and Elephant Show:
1,000 baht / 500 baht / 300 baht / 40 baht
Advanced reservations are available for tickets of 500 baht and 1,000 baht.
Please contact the Surin Provincial Office.
Tel: 0-4451-2039 or 0-4452-1358. |
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Tickets for the ‘Legend of Prasat Srikhoraphum’ Light-and-Sound Show
November 20:
100 baht per person (includes light refreshments and snacks)
Tickets will also be available for sales at the entrance to the Prasat Srikhoraphum sanctuary.
Contact the Tambon Ra Ngaeng Sub-district Office
Tel: 0-4456-1243
November 21
Chinese banquet and dinner show:
2,900 baht for a table of 8 persons
Please contact the Tambon Ra Ngaeng sub-district office.
Tel: 0-4456-1243 |
Surin Tourist Promotion Association
Tickets for the Surin Elephant Round-up and Elephant Show and the November 20 “Legend of Prasat Srikhoraphum” Light-and-Sound performance are also available from the Surin Tourist Promotion Association.
Tel: 0-4451-5832
Contact information:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Surin Office
Tel: +66 (0) 4451 4447-8, (0) 4451 8529
Fax: +66 (0) 4451 8530
E-mail: tatsurin@tat.or.th
Source : Tourism Authority of Thailand
IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change.
Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
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