Chaiyaphum Festivals

The annual Chao Poh Phraya Lae Festival (January) is held to commemorate the virtues of Phraya Lae, the founder of Chaiyaphum. During 12-20 January of each year, celebrations are organized at the grounds in front of the Town Hall and at the Chao Poh Phraya Lae Monument junction. Rites are performed to pay homage to the spirit of the Chao Poh , and there are elephant parades and processions from various districts. Exhibition stalls are put up by private and government agencies and an agricultural contest is held.

The Ram Phi Fah traditional dance (April) is performed in groups at Phu Phra where the highly revered Phra Chao Ong Tue , a Buddha statue carved in sandstone is enshrined . About 2 meters tall , it is celebrated during the 13th to 15th day of the 5th lunar month or April and also on Khao Pansa and Ok Pansa (beginning and ending of the Buddhist Rain Retreat).

Pay homage to Chao Poh Phraya Lae (May) is held at the Nong Pla Tao Shrine during 12-20 of May every year. Villagers flock to the shrine to perform homage paying rites and stage dances in his honor.

Candle Festival (July) This Buddhist ceremony features a procession and a giant candle-carving contest featuring candles as elaborate as those in the Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani.