Thread: Thailand: Somtam, pla ra listed as national treasures

Somtam, pla ra listed as national treasures - The Nation

Somtam, pla ra listed as national treasures

The Nation December 15, 2012 1:00 am

Papaya salad has been added to the Culture Ministry

Diners can now serve themselves a double helping of pride in Thai cuisine by eating papaya salad seasoned with fermented fish, as both traditional delicacies have been registered as national treasures by the Culture Ministry in one of seven categories established to preserve the Kingdom's traditional heritage.

The move to put the Isaan (northeastern) delicacies somtam and pla ra - which can also be combined to make a delicious dish - on a list of national treasures is part of a move by Thailand to implement the Unesco protocol on Intangible Culture Heritage in the near future, Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome said at a Bangkok press conference on the issue.

There are four other items in the food-related category - various Thai set menus; kheowan curry; general Thai curries; and various chilli sauces. Somtam on its own is good with many other seasonings, while pla ra serves as an alternative to fish sauce. Both are traditional Isaan dishes popular among gastronomes across the country.

Sonthaya said the registration would encourage promotion of traditions among Thais, especially youth, while serving as a form of "immunity" against the overwhelming influence of foreign cultures.

He cited the phenomenal popularity of the Korean "Gangnam Style" video among Thai children, who he said know the dance by heart while possibly being ignorant of some of their own traditions, such as mark keb, a Thai version of the game of jacks.

Among other virtually forgotten traditional heritage is khan hin Ban Bu, handmade metal bowls produced in only one location: the Ban Bu area in Bangkok Noi district. Founded in the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851), the once-large community of khan hin Ban Bu craftsmen is now reduced to just nine people.

Samruay Wajasnoh, speaking at the press conference, said khan hin Ban Bu could disappear within five years without registration and promotion by the Culture Ministry.

The ministry's list this year consists of 70 cultural heritage items in seven categories. Eighty such items have been registered by the ministry since 1999. The 70 items this year include activities from both mainstream Thai culture and local and indigenous traditions.

Both khan hin Ban Bu bowls and baat monk's bowls, produced at Baan Baat (Monk's Bowl Village), are in the original and traditional handicrafts category, which comprises 13 items including five woven fabrics and wooden products engraved with nacre (also known as mother of pearl).

The 11-item arts, music and performances category includes the three-string Thai violin, ancient plays and traditional performing arts from the South known as norah and rong ngeng.

In the 14-item traditional tales category, most are influenced by or related to Buddhism and revere late monks, while two are from indigenous traditions.

Along with Thai jacks, the eight-item games and sports category includes Thai chess, bull and buffalo racing, all forms of takraw competitions except for sepak takraw, which originated in Malaysia, and a martial art known as jerng from the Lanna culture of northern Thailand.

The next category comprises seven rituals and social norms, including phook siew and phook kler, in which holy strings are tied around one's wrist by the elderly, and Maha Chart prayers, in which previous lives of the Buddha are praised.

The two remaining categories are the 11-item natural and universe-related wisdom group, and the six-item literature and language group.