Phitsanulok Boat Racing Festival : Thailand Festival

Phitsanulok Boat Racing Festival

The Phitsanulok Boat Race was started 400 years ago when King used boat racing to train his military by using military boat. Soon it is turn to the festival where common people are invited as audiences. The Traditional Long Boat Races (ประเพณีการแข่งเรือยาวชิงถ้วยพระราชทาน) is not for racing but it is also boat decoration contest too. All boats are very designer and attractive. The race is held on Nan River in front of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Woramahawihan.

The races are feature in six competition categories -

Traditional long-boat races with 3 paddlers: 24 teams
Traditional long-boat races with 5 paddlers: 12 teams
Traditional long-boat races with 12 paddlers: 12 teams
Traditional long-boat races with 13-30 paddlers: 12 teams
Traditional long-boat races with 31-40 paddlers: 6 teams
Traditional long-boat races with 41-55 paddlers: 8 teams

On occasion of this event many educational and traditional exhibition are held. This is huge gathering of people across the country. It attract the many tourist from across the globe.