Thread: Nong Khai’s ancient stupa visible as Mekong River drops

NONG KHAI, 20 February 2016 (NNT) – Villagers in Wat That Community in Nong Khai Province are launching a religious festival for their highly-revered stupa, which was made visible by the falling water level in Mekong River.

Worshippers have draped colorful flags and cloth around the stupa which was earlier submerged by the river. The emergence of the stupa has captured the attention of local people and tourists. Many of them have hired a boat to have a close look at it.

People from nearby provinces also take the opportunity to perform religious rites at the site. Their visits have led to new job opportunities for residents such as boat rentals and flower and incense sales.

Villagers and Nong Khai Municipality are jointly holding the stupa worship festival. The event will continue until 22nd February.

National News Bureau Of Thailand | Nong Khai?s ancient stupa visible as Mekong River drops

Why was that pyramid constructed in the middle of the river in the first place. What is it used for?

It's a triangular flag pole

Great for drying bed sheets on too.

Good thing they've claimed it before the Lao build an airstrip on it.

^ ^ collapsed into the Mekong River in 1847.

The Sunken Chedi (stupa) is little more than a brick protrusion that juts out of the river, but it is still worshipped by groups from both banks of the Mekong. Phra That Klangnam, fell into the river in the mid-nineteenth century and is visible only during the dry season. The 15th to 17th century Chedi, which houses nine Buddha foot bones, has been migrating deeper into the river each year and is now almost in the dead-centre, adorned with flags.

Nong Khai Thailand | The Temple Trail

Stupa

A stupa (Sanskrit: m.,stūpa "heap") is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (śarīra - typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns), and used as a place of meditation.

This link gives a lot of information on Stupas.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa

Originally Posted by wasabi

Why was that pyramid constructed in the middle of the river in the first place.

Someone obviously in a drunken stupa