The Ratchaburi Provincial Culture Office, together with the Mon Cultural Preservation Group of the Mae Klong River Basin and partner networks, organized the “Eat, Live, See Mon” event. Participants wore Mon shawls and sarongs to attract tourists and bring joy to the community at Wat Makham, Khung Phayom Subdistrict, Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province.
On 26 Feb 2026, Ms. Patcharapa Manaspanyakul, Director of the Special Affairs Group at the Ratchaburi Provincial Culture Office, revealed that Ratchaburi is a culturally diverse area, home to eight main ethnic groups living together for a long time across the province. Each group has unique cultures, lifestyles, and traditions. The Mon Thai ethnic group, one of these groups, migrated to seek the protection of the Thai monarchy since the early Rattanakosin period and settled along both banks of the Mae Klong River in Photharam and Ban Pong districts, including Nakhon Chum, Ban Muang, and Khung Phayom subdistricts, for agricultural and transportation convenience. Historically, these three Mon communities have been strong and maintain distinctive cultural identities in language, cuisine, customs, and dress.
Therefore, the Ratchaburi Provincial Culture Office collaborated with the Mon Cultural Preservation Group of the Mae Klong River Basin and partner networks to organize the “Eat, Live, See Mon” event. This aims to raise local awareness of the value of cultural heritage and develop it as a cultural asset that can attract tourists, generate income, and sustainably bring happiness to the community.
Mr. Komsan Japju, Chairman of the Nakhon Chum Mon Cultural Preservation Group, said that this year’s “Eat, Live, See Mon” event is special in inviting participants to wear traditional Mon shawls and sarongs, a cultural practice among Mon Thais. Historically, Mon women wore a chest band or wrap, but when attending temple sermons, this was considered inappropriate. Out of respect for Buddhism, they draped shawls over their chests to appear proper and modest, embroidered by hand with intricate floral patterns such as Pikool, Phutthan, and Jasmine flowers, as well as the swan symbol representing the Mon people, to beautify the cloth.
Meanwhile, Mon men wear sarongs with distinct styles depending on their area. For example, in Nakhon Chum Subdistrict, they prefer a ripe palm color; in Khung Phayom, they wear bright colors such as blue, pink, or green; and in Ban Muang, they use darker, more subdued colors like indigo, brown, or mangosteen peel color. The event features a special performance of the “Mon Tha Ye Dance,” a high-level dance performed only on important occasions, with more than 100 dancers from Mon cultural networks, including ethnic Thai and Mon communities in Ban Pong and Photharam, gathering to pay tribute and honor the graciousness of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.
Additionally, the event offers visitors participatory activities such as clay sculpting, playing a traditional game called Saba, and making and tasting local dishes like taro curry, sour curry with Son flowers, curry with moringa leaves and mung beans, chicken curry with unripe banana, and sesame rice. There is also a special exhibition titled “The Legend of Mon Rice in Ice Water” and a community market with over 100 stalls selling food, clothing, and agricultural products. For those interested, the 10th “Jea Mong Rong Mon Deng Ratchaburi” or “Eat, Live, See Mon” festival will be held on 1 Mar 2026 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the cultural grounds of Wat Makham, Khung Phayom Subdistrict, Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province. For more information, call 08-7706-5642.
