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Introduction
Wat Phra Phutthabat Yasothon
Yasothon is famous for its boisterous Rocket Festival every May, when giant home-made missiles are
launched into the air in a symbolic rain-making gesture.
In the town at Wat Mahathat, Phra That Yasothon is a much-visited Lao-style chedi,
said to be over 1,200 years old. It enshrines holy relics of Phra Ananda,one of Lord Buddha's chief disciples.
That Kong Khao Noi is an ancient Khmer chedi with a much revered brick and stucco Buddha that is ritually bathed
every April. The handicraft village of Ban Si Than is famed for the triangular pillows used in most Thai households.
Yasothon has an area of 4,161 square kilometres. It is divided into the following districts: Mueang, Kham Khuean Kaeo,
Maha Chana Chai, Pa Tio, Loeng Nok Tha, Kut Chum, Kho Wang, Sai Mun and Thai Charoen.
Borders
| North |
: Mukdahan and Roi Et |
| East |
: Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani |
| South |
: Si Sa Ket |
| West |
: Roi Et |
Distance
| Distances from Mueang District to Other Districts |
| Sai Mun |
18 km. |
Maha Chana Chai |
41 km. |
| Kham Khuean Kaeo |
23 km. |
Thai Charoen |
50 km. |
| Pa Tio |
28 km. |
Loeng Nok Tha |
69 km. |
| Kut Chum |
37 km. |
Kho Wang |
70 km. |
Festivals & Events
Hae Malai Procession
When: Full moon day of the 3rd lunar month
Where: Fa Yat Subdistrict Municipality
Hae Malai Procession
Hae Malai Procession is an annually on Magha Puja Day. Various communities will
make hanging offerings from popped rice prepared from their best sticky rice
paddies and decorate them to represent the heavenly Montharop flowers (magnolia)
as offerings to the Lord Buddha. At night, there are cultural performances to
celebrate the offerings before they are put in a procession to be offered to Wat Ho Kong.
Bang Fai Rocket Festival
When: Second weekend of May
Where: Phaya Thaen Public Park
Yasothon is most famous for its spectacular Rocket (Bang Fai) Festival, an event
which draws visitors from all over the country. The festival features large home-made
rockets, fireworks displays, parades and beauty contests. Traditionally northeastern
villagers have created and launched rockets of all kinds and sizes as a belief that
this will ensure that the gods will send plenty of rain for the rice planting season.
As part of this two-day festival there are beauty pageants and various forms of folk
and cultural entertainment full of merriment.
Thai 
