Over 800 Naga fireballs counted last night in Nong Khai

[webfact]

Over 800 Naga fireballs counted last night in Nong Khai



NONG KHAI: -- Mekhong river bank was packed with several tens of thousands of locals and tourists in Nong Khai province to watch the "Naga" fireballs which were said to float out of the water every year after the end of Buddhism Lent.

The first Naga fireball was spotted coming out of the water in Phonpisai district at about 6 pm, drawing cheers from crowds of curious onlookers watching from the Thai side river bank.

By 10 pm local authorities and tourism officials reported counting more than 800 Naga fireballs floating out the river one by one and staying above the river a few minutes before they vanished.

The counting was from Muang district, Phonpisai, Ratanawapi, Sang Khom, and Bung Karn. By 10 pm more than 800 fireballs were counted, outnumbered last year’s estimated 600.

The Naga fireball phenomenon centres around the rising of mysterious fireballs, also called Mekong Lights, from the 250 kilometre long Mekong river from Muang Nong Khai to Ratanawapi disrict that separates Northeastern Thailand from Laos.

Locals attributed this mysterious phenomenon to a waterborne serpent ‘the Naga’, which spits fireballs into the sky on the nights before and after the last day of the Buddhist Lent season.

During the period, several tens thousands of locals and tourists will flock to Nong Khai to witness the phenomenon which was not proved if it was linked to superstition or natural incident.

But the influx of curious tourists certainly caused heavy traffic jams along the road running parallel to the river.

All hotel rooms were fully booked months before the events, while temples, schools and restaurants locating near river bank also reported arrivals of tourists to occupy spaces on the bank to watch the event.

Tourists were seen filling up the spaces along the Mae Khong River to reserve spot to witness the Naga fireballs phenomenon which was said to be a unique event in the world.

Culture ministry’s permanent secretary Prof Apinan Posayanont yesterda presided over the ceremony of this year’s Naga Fireballs festival at Phonpisai district.

The colourful event kicked off with an official worshipping of the Naga near the Mekhong river of the Wat Thai temple, where legend has said that the temple is a stairway between the human world and underwater world, where the naga lives.

The province has then constructed a man-made cave to represent the Naga world in order to give the people who believes in the legend a chance to worship the mystical creature.

Nong Khai deputy governor of Prasong Kongkhaoroptham said during the opening of the festival “Tonight, all of us here will witness a natural phenomenon that only exists in Thailand, and Phon Pisai district is one the best places in the country to be for this yearly wonder.”

So far the Naga fireballs occurrence could not yet be proven of how or why it appears, but legend said that the Naga shoots out fireballs from its world to worship Lord Buddha every year at the end of the Buddhist Lent season.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/over-800-naga-fireballs-counted-last-night-in-nong-khai


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-28

[SoilSpoil]

One of the great mysteries of South East Asia. On par with that of Santa.

[tom21]

with all the lights and fire works it be hard to see what was happening but a good night had by all. they all be back next year hopping for the same

[arfurcrown]

Rumour has it that the two Naga Fireball production facilities in Samut Prakarn have become somewhat overwhelmed with the volume of work thus those plants have dispatched their products in a somewhat disorderly fashion and have indeed caused chaos, confusion and alarm to the local population. .

Edited October 28, 2015 by arfurcrown

[SunsetT]

What a load of balls..............

[SunsetT]

It is a little known fact that the Loch Ness monster retired to a village near Nong Khai many years ago, and despite trying Somtam Bala every year at this festival in an attempt to be sociable and integrate with the locals, poor Nessie takes to the river to relieve her 'ring of fire' and emits 'fireballs' all night................

[upena]

Another myth perpetuated by TAT.

[cruisemonkey]

Pics please.

[faraday]

Does it matter, is it of such profound importance to you to seemingly denegrate this event - whether real or fake, when it provides fun, entertainment & maybe more to people?

[biplanebluey]

Does it matter, is it of such profound importance to you to seemingly denegrate this event - whether real or fake, when it provides fun, entertainment & maybe more to people?

No it matters not one iota(whateve that is).What does matter is that thousands of people of various national origins got together and had a great time together.Pity there isn't more of this.I will certainly be there next year and enjoy the tremendous night out the only thing that has me to say the least iscurious------- nobody has a picture of one and they had 800 chances !!!!!!!!

Edited October 28, 2015 by biplanebluey

[The manic]

We were there for hours and saw none. Though some people claimed to have seen one or two. Never mind it was still a good excursion. I talked to one guy who had been four times and never seen a fire ball. People see reflections of the numerous fireworks and lanterns and blooms but that is all.

[landslide]

My wife and I were there on the waterfront last night. While I cannot attest to 800 fireballs, there were as many as 40 in the air at one time. Over the course of 2 hours after sunset, I am sure there were at least a couple of hundred. Who knows how many were launched in the later hours.

[sensei]

800 and not a single picture?

I've had to look at my calendar and yes, it's 2015 and people still believe this.

As a science teacher, I've been fighting ignorance since the time i started teaching.

Not as easy as I thought

[TheKnave]

Life of the party, aren't you 'sensei'?

[faraday]

800 and not a single picture?

I've had to look at my calendar and yes, it's 2015 and people still believe this.

As a science teacher, I've been fighting ignorance since the time i started teaching.

Not as easy as I thought

Would that be Domestic Science?

"Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach"

[bangon04]

"By 10 pm local authorities and tourism officials reported counting more than 800 Naga fireballs"

or maybe they were just looking at the various factory insurance fires in Samut Prakarn around this time of the year.........

either way free fireworks for the tourists wherever they go.

Amazing Thailand

[Acharn]

Pics please.

I don't have any, but I saw some video on a Thai news broadcast yesterday (28 Oct). I had been wondering for several years why no one ever seemed to have pictures, and this year they had some. Wish I had a link. Didn't anybody post a clip to Youtube?

[faraday]

There are several vdos on you tube - no doubt the aforementioned "scientist" will be able to give us an explanation using his rational mind.

[AyG]

TAT promote it as a mystery, whilst in fact it's simply fireworks that they themselves are setting off.

Myths comprehensively debunked at http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4183

[sinbin]

Anyone that believes in this muck needs help, Next you'll start believing that spirits actually reside in your wife's ghost house and really consumes the offerings put out for them.

[sinbin]

I talked to one guy who had been four times and never seen a fire ball.

One just has to laugh The penny should have dropped by now?

[BuddhistVirus]

800 and not a single picture?

I've had to look at my calendar and yes, it's 2015 and people still believe this.

As a science teacher, I've been fighting ignorance since the time i started teaching.

Not as easy as I thought

Oh ye of little faith... Edited October 30, 2015 by BuddhistVirus

[faraday]

Anyone that believes in this muck needs help, Next you'll start believing that spirits actually reside in your wife's ghost house and really consumes the offerings put out for them.

"Muck" Somewhat an overly strong word to use,don't you think.

Do you know anything about Symbolism; we are surrounded by it all the time.

It has a significant effect on all our lives....

Think about it a bit more, before making such seditious remarks - ok blud?

[AyG]

Anyone that believes in this muck needs help, Next you'll start believing that spirits actually reside in your wife's ghost house and really consumes the offerings put out for them.

"Muck" Somewhat an overly strong word to use,don't you think.

Do you know anything about Symbolism; we are surrounded by it all the time.

It has a significant effect on all our lives....

Think about it a bit more, before making such seditious remarks - ok blud?

Personally, I thought sinbin was being a bit on the mild side. Irrational belief, though common, is no benison for society. Far better if everyone were rational, rather than believing in ghosts, spirits, gods. And much better if people weren't prepared to torture and kill in the name of those irrational beliefs.

[sinbin]

Anyone that believes in this muck needs help, Next you'll start believing that spirits actually reside in your wife's ghost house and really consumes the offerings put out for them.

"Muck" Somewhat an overly strong word to use,don't you think.

How about tosh or crap? The Naga Fireballs are an organised scam. A rip off.To disregard the origin of the true creation in attempt to make a quick buck and turn a few heads. End of.

Edited October 31, 2015 by sinbin

[carlyai]

800 and not a single picture?

I've had to look at my calendar and yes, it's 2015 and people still believe this.

As a science teacher, I've been fighting ignorance since the time i started teaching.

Not as easy as I thought

Would that be Domestic Science?

"Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach"

"Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach"

Ok, I'm a teacher, and OK I only get $160000 a year, so tha't a bit of a 'can do' don't u think?

[tom21]

$160,000 a year teaching in Thailand. I did not know they paid so well . is that US dollars

[jacnl2000]

If it is fireworks, then I must say it is exceptionally good fireworks ( no frightening sounds ). Speed of lights I've seen is much faster in comparison to contemporary fireworks. Exact same lights are said to appear less frequent in relative smaller neighbouring sanaams.