Yasothon Rocket Festival Thailand

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The Yasothon Bun Bangfai festival originated as a ceremony to encourage auspicious circumstances for the rice-planting season. The rockets were thought to "stimulate" the rain clouds and encourage the rain gods to provide a plentiful watering for the newly-planted crops. For the duration of the festival, teams launch their massive rockets into the skies in an effort to reach the greatest height. The explosives, contraptions of bamboo and gunpowder hazardous...
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The Yasothon Bun Bangfai festival originated as a ceremony to encourage auspicious circumstances for the rice-planting season. The rockets were thought to "stimulate" the rain clouds and encourage the rain gods to provide a plentiful watering for the newly-planted crops. For the duration of the festival, teams launch their massive rockets into the skies in an effort to reach the greatest height. The explosives, contraptions of bamboo and gunpowder hazardous enough to give the average health and safety inspector a coronary, are launched with much toasting and merriment by their creators. Beauty pageants and traditional feasting accompany this literally explosive event.
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