Nakhon Sawan Unveils Guanyin Goddess Effigy for Lunar Festival
Nakhon Sawan unveiled statues of Guanyin and other deities at Pak Nam Pho to mark the 70th Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, with the Father-Mother Deity Procession now in its 111th year of community tradition.
Nakhon Sawan unveiled a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva to mark the 70th Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at Pak Nam Pho, with preparations underway for the annual Father-Mother Deity Procession.
On September 25, 2026, Chittakesem Nirodjthanaraj, Mayor of Nakhon Sawan, presided over the selection and launch ceremony for the Guanyin, Gim Tong-Nerk Nung, and Dragon Daughter effigies for the 2570 procession and the 2569 Mid-Autumn Festival ritual. The event was attended by Numphai Kongkawitoon, Chair of the Festival Committee; Sirilak Aphichitchahd, Chair of the Pak Nam Pho Father-Mother Deity Procession Foundation; Bhattarawadi Nirod, Member of Parliament for Nakhon Sawan District 1; and government officials, associations, and residents at the Pak Nam Pho Father-Mother Shrine.
Chittakesem expressed his honor and delight at presiding over the ceremony to launch the three effigies for 2569-2570. He noted that the Pak Nam Pho Father-Mother Deity Procession is a tradition upheld by Thai people of Chinese descent in Nakhon Sawan for over 100 years, making it one of the province's earliest such celebrations. The organized committee has now reached its 111th year, demonstrating the community's strong commitment to preserving this cultural heritage.
The Pak Nam Pho procession is recognized as a grand festival that attracts both domestic and international visitors. The Guanyin effigy procession is a key component, with candidates selected by qualified experts and then confirmed through divination by the deities themselves. This year's selections for Guanyin, Gim Tong-Nerk Nung, and Dragon Daughter have been completed.
Chittakesem declared the ceremony officially open, noting that the timing coincided auspiciously with the Mid-Autumn Festival, and invited all attendees to participate in the moon-worshipping ritual for blessings and prosperity.
Numphai added that the effigy selection is a crucial activity in the festival calendar. Candidates must be chaste young women born in Nakhon Sawan or descendants of provincial residents, meeting all required characteristics. The selection process occurs in two stages: first, preliminary screening based on defined qualifications and identity criteria; second, final confirmation through the deities' approval.
