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Kite Flying
Takraw
Swan Boat Races
Thai Boxing
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Since
the Sukhothai period, flying has been a popular past-time. According to
the annals of history, kite-flying over the Royal Palace was once forbidden
by an imperial edict during the Ayutthaya era. Today, however, it is both
common and entertaining to see "kite-fighting" during Hot Season months,
particularly March and April. During such occasions, opposing teams fly
male "Chula" and female "Pakpao" kites in a surrogate battle of sexes.
The small, agile Pakpao kites tries to fell the more cumbersome Chula
while the male kite tries to ensnare the female kite and drag it back
into male territory.
This
sport is traditionally played by a loosely formed circle of men who use
feet, knees, thighs, chests and shoulders to acrobatically pass a woven
rattan ball to each other, endeavoring to keep it airborne, and eventually
kick it into a basket suspended above their heads.
Long
Boat Races have been popular in Thailand since the rivers became a main
medium for transport in the country. Regattas are featured in many country
fairs, which celebrate the end of the annual Rains Retreat. The long narrow,
low-slung wooden boats are festooned with flags and flowers, manned by
oarsmen and raced with great gusto. The most noteworthy boat races are
at Nan, Phichit, Nakhon Phanom, Surat Thani, Ayutthaya, and Pathum Thani.
Developed
during the Ayutthaya period between 1350 - 1767, "Muay Thai" is a style
of boxing unique to Thailand in which combatants use elbows, knees, bare
feet, and gloved fists to batter each other into submission. A martial
art before it was a sport, Muay Thai has a long tradition and is still
surrounded by much ritual. The fights are usually fierce and furious though
the best boxers display remarkable skills, as well as great fitness. A
good contest is decided by application of technique rather than brute
force.