Culture & Religion

In Phangnga, as in other southern provinces, there are also southern-styled fishing boats, originated in Pattani. The brightly colored boats are adorned by colored strips of cloth to please the sea spirits. The boats were used as sail boats originally and they are now run with engines by fishermen. The characters depicted on the detailed design on the boats are the singha lion, the gagasura horned bird, payanak sea serpent and the garuda bird from Asian mythologies. Most of the people here are Buddhists with minorities of Muslim and Christian people. Muslim Thais are followers of Islam. Urban Chinese worship at Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian shrines and temples, while the ethnic Thais visit the local Buddhist temples twice a month. Many of the chao naam which translates as "water people" practice animism, which revolves around the placation of spirits who inhabit the sea, island forests and even their boats. This often takes the form of leaving offerings of food, liquor and colored strips of cloth at local shrines. The Morken gather every year at festivals to assure continuing fish harvests, with more involved ceremonies and much merry-making.

Back to Top