DEITY FESTIVAL

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Yearly Chinese deity festivals are important events for the local Chinese communities in Bangkok or provincial villages.

Today event is happening on Soi Ekkachai 26 near Wat Sai, which is located in a community near river Sanam Chai.

There is a banner to thank the local deity during this yearly festival.

The celebration is announced through a red banner (ขอบคุณเทพเจ้า) with Thai and Chinese characters.

Pictures on this page were taken at a Chinese Shrine located on Soi Ekkachai 26, Bangkok. This event took place from 25 Dec 2014 to 27 Dec 2014.

The event is happening in a neighbourhood located in the small Chinese shrine located on Soi Ekkachai 26, Bangkok.

Fly there with Google Earth

The event is happening in a Chinese shrine. Free food is offered. There is free Chinese opera during two days but the festival lasts three days.

This troupe is the famous modern Chinese opera troupe Sai Yong Hong (คณะไซ้ย่งฮง).

Thailand Teochew Opera Troupe Sai Yong Hong has even a facebook page.

In front of the Chinese shrine, there is even a beautiful Lord Brahma shrine flanked with elephants.

The main stars of Sai Yong Hong troupe are coming from mainland China. Today a new opera (งิ้ว) is performed.

As it is a festival, there are of course some shops selling artifacts such as masks for kids.

Various offerings are done for the deity. It includes fruits and sweets.

Chinese shrines are always colorful and feature many statues. This deity is sitting on the back of a buffalo.

A big gate allows to enter inside the Chinese shrine. Those yearly festivals are important to create local community cohesion.

This red color public notice with Thai and Chinese characters announces that the deity festival is taking place from 25 Dec 2014 to 27 Dec 2014.

Performers have tents below the stage. Backstage is pretty small.

During the peak season, Sai Yong Hong is staying around Bangkok. It is currently the most demanded troupe.

The Chinese opera performance is starting at 7PM so local artists are busy finalising their makeup.

Today there is a big audience but it is mainly elderly Thai people.

Troupe owners or managers seems to be three people, i.e. one man helping on everything, an elderly woman checking the progress of the story and giving reminder to the performers, another woman checking makeup and clothes.

Various offerings are done for the deity. It includes fruits and sweets.

Today opera is based on a legend taking place during Ayothaya era. A Chinese man arrives in Pattani and marries a local lady. Her sister, not receiving news from her brother, arrives there and tries to break up the marriage. Unable to succeed, she finally gets suicide to show her disapproval to her brother.

Special scenes are happening under the water so there is the king of fishes, some mermaids and light is made dimmer. A special gun is used to make the water sound effects!

Today opera even features folk dances with Indian songs!

The story is taking place during Ayothaya era and is located in South of Thailand so some performers wear Indian style clothes.

Thai performers often smile or joke but also get reprimanded by the boss if he is not happy.

This is kitchen where food is prepared for performers. There are even young children in the troupe. When getting older, the children stay in relatives' homes as they need to go the same school every day but their parents are changing place every few days.

It is never an issue to be able to go in the backstage in Chinese Opera performances happening in Thailand.

Normally troupe owner always allows as long as the performance and performers are not disturbed.

Today performance was not perfect as it was the first time for this new opera inspired by a folk legend. New opera performances are often introduced in smaller festivals in order for the troupe to get accustomed to it before performances in main festivals.

Money is offered to performers. 2000 baht for the main star. 500 baht for smaller stars and 100 baht for small role. It can be a source of conflict in the backstage. If the main star is generous, his amount can be shared between the smaller roles.

A strong usage of Facebook to share pictures of the performers or to share location of the next performance is done. Some Facebook live videos are sometimes even recorded when performers are doing make up session (แต่งหน้าดี).

Comic interlude happens with one actor wearing modern policeman clothes and asking for money as it is end of the year :-)

Today Chinese opera is a modern application of Chinese opera in Thailand. Purist may not like but anyway it is important for folks arts to evolve if they want to survive in this modern world.

Chinese Opera Photo Gallery 3

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