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Most of the funding came from donations of devout Buddhists who regularly make merit at the temple.

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The annual festival is a unifying endeavour for the community, with everyone helping each other to prepare the procession.

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It features a competition in the Chak Phra tradition, the presentation of robes to monks and longboat racing.

Surat Thani temple greets King of the Naga

The faithful of Wat Bang Bai Mai in Muang Surat Thani held a procession on Sunday (October 13) featuring a gilded car carrying a statue of the five-headed King of the Naga. More than 100,000 pieces of gold leaf were used to adorn the vehicle.