Mekong water level drops revealing Phra That Klang Nam

Matichon•Society•6d ago

Reader Briefing

Falling water levels in the Mekong River at Nong Khai province have partially revealed the Phra That Klang Nam stupa.

•On October 2, the Mekong River level at the Nong Khai Hydrology Section was recorded at 4.45 meters.
•The base of Phra That Klang Nam has emerged approximately 50 centimeters above the water.
•People and tourists are visiting the site or worshiping a replica stupa on the riverbank.
•The original stupa collapsed in Buddhist Era 2390 and is now located in the middle of the river due to bank erosion.

•The Mekong River level at the Nong Khai Hydrology Section was 4.45 meters on October 2, a decrease of 28 centimeters from the previous day.
•The Mekong River level is decreasing because levels in the northern parts of the river are also continuously dropping.
•The base of Phra That Klang Nam in the Wat That community area has emerged about 50 centimeters above the water surface.
•People and tourists are using boat services to worship Phra That Klang Nam or visiting the Phra That La Nong replica on the riverbank.
•Phra That Klang Nam is a collapsed stupa housing nine footprints of the Lord Buddha according to the Urangkhathat legend.
•Records from the Meeting of Chronicles Volume 70 state the Nong Khai stupa collapsed on the 9th day of the waxing moon, 9th month, Buddhist Era 2390.
•Nong Khai Municipality and Nong Khai residents constructed a replica stupa containing fragments of the original and built a riverbank protection wall with budget support from the Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior.
•The Wat That community and Nong Khai Municipality organize annual events including the Month 3 Merit Making on Magha Puja Day, the Month 6 Rocket Festival, stupa worship ceremonies, and long-boat races on the End of Buddhist Lent day.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Nong Khai Province(จังหวัดหนองคาย)ℹ️

The province through which the Mekong River flows and where Phra That Klang Nam is located.

Phra That Klang Nam(พระธาตุกลางน้ำ)

A collapsed stupa located in the middle of the Mekong River in the Wat That community.

Wat That Community(ชุมชนวัดธาตุ)

The community area in Nong Khai Municipality where Phra That Klang Nam is situated.

Phra That La Nong(พระธาตุหล้าหนอง)

The replica of Phra That Klang Nam located on the bank of the Mekong River.

Nong Khai Hydrology Section, Department of Water Resources(ส่วนอุทกวิทยาหนองคาย กรมทรัพยากรน้ำ)

The agency that measured the Mekong River level at 4.45 meters.

Nong Khai Municipality(เทศบาลเมืองหนองคาย)

The local government that cooperated with residents to build a replica stupa and riverbank protection wall.

Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Interior(กรมส่งเสริมการปกครองท้องถิ่น กระทรวงมหาดไทย)

The agency that provided the budget for the replica stupa and riverbank protection wall.

Luang Phor Koon(หลวงพ่อคูณ)

The person whose ashes were scattered in the ceremony at the location of Phra That Klang Nam.

Urangkhathat Legend(ตำนานอุรังคธาตุ)

The legend stating that Phra That Klang Nam houses nine footprints of the Lord Buddha.

Meeting of Chronicles Volume 70(หนังสือประชุมพงศาวดาร ภาค 70)

The record stating the Nong Khai stupa collapsed in Buddhist Era 2390.