Dynamic of Boon Kam Fa tradition of Phuan Ethnic Group in the Thailand tourism context.

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study the characteristics of the original Boon Kam Fa tradition conducted by the Phuan Ethnic Group in Thailand. It also aims to study the origin, existence, and change of the tradition in the context of the tourism industry in Thailand. The data in this qualitative research was gained through document study, observation, and interviews in several areas, namely Hat Siao village, Tam Bon Hat Siao, Amphoe Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai Province; Amphoe Phrom Buri, Sing Buri Province; and Tam Bon Ban Phue, Amphoe Ban Phue, Udon Thani Province. Such data collection was carried out through the perspectives of identity, tradition invention, and ethnic and cultural tourism. The results of this study indicate that a great deal of the history of struggle and migration of the Phuan Ethnic Group is found in Lao PDR’s myth and chronicles. In fact, the latest migration of the Phuan Ethnic Group to Thailand was in the reign of King Rama V. Phuan Ethnic Groups distributed themselves to different provinces, such as Sukhothai, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, and Udon Thani. As a matter of fact, they still adhere to Boon Kam Fa as one of their ethnic group traditions, which is used as a tourism activity nowadays. For Hat Siao village, Tam Bon Hat Siao, Amphoe Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai Province, the Boon Kam Fa tradition has been in the process of development to a tourism activity. The meaning of the tradition is a holiday for Phuan women to have time out from looming. The activities in the tradition include making Khao Khong dessert, Lam Phuan and Nang Kwak entertaining activities. Cultural Tourism 41 www.witpress.com, ISSN 1755-8336 (on-line) WIT Transactions on State of the Art in Science and Engineering, Vol 68, © 2013 WIT Press doi:10.2495/978-1-84564-806-0/004 For Amphoe Phrom Buri, Sing Buri Province, Boon Kam Fa has been deployed to a greater extent as a tourism activity. The tradition means paying respect to the sky, is a holiday and a new year’s eve of the Phuan Ethnic Group, and a fertility forecast. Making Khao Lam, playing the Mhak Bia game, and the Ram Kam Fa dance are some of the activities in the tradition. However, Boon Kam Fa is not made a tourism activity in Tam Bon Ban Phue, Amphoe Ban Phue, Udon Thani Province. Only some of the Phuan people still consider it a tradition with the meaning of Phuan’s Head Sib Song Kong Sib See (the twelve month tradition and the fourteen ways of life). Fertilizer or seeds are used in activities such as courting and the Tai Phuan dance. The data gained from the areas suggested that the Boon Kam Fa phenomenon has different perspectives of the dynamic, namely management, economic, social and ecosystem, and the meaning of the tradition. This research will shed light on the new knowledge about ethnic and cultural tourism, which will therefore lead to planning of tourism through cultures and ethnic groups. Ultimately, such planning is hoped to bring about the sustainability of society and culture in the future.