Confirmation of the dates for the annual festival was made at a press conference at Blue Elephant Phuket restaurant in Phuket Town on Saturday (Mar 9).
Phuket Vice Governor Norasak Suksomboon chaired the press event, joined by Dr Koson Tanguthai, President of the Peranakan Association of Thailand, Phuket Town Deputy Mayor Prasit Sinsaowaphak and Rewat Areerob, Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO)
Also present were representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Phuket Tourist Association and the Phuket Provincial Culture Office.
The festival will highlight traditions and customs among Phuket’s Peranakan (‘Straits Chinese’, or ‘Baba-Nyonya’) community, “emphasising rituals that maintain their sacredness as they have been practiced continuously for more than 100 years,” Vice Governor Norasak said.
“We invite Phuket people to welcome the newlyweds’ procession on Sunday, May 12. Come together and dress in local costumes, and help host the tourists who come to watch the wedding procession of Baba Phuket’s sweet wedding activities,” he added.
The procession will depart from ‘Ang Mo Lao Hongyok’ (the Hongyok family residence), continue along Thepkrasattri Rd, pass the Peranakanitat Museum, continue along Phuket Rd to the Clocktower Circle (Surin Circle), where it will turn left onto Montri Rd. pass the Phuket Pearl hotel, continue to the Phuket Town Post Office, turn left onto Thalang Rd and conclude at Queen Sirikit Park.
“In the procession you will be able to see the beauty of various styles of kebaya. which is a unique form of costume of women who are descendants of the Baba people,” Vice Governor Norasak explained.
The Phuket Provincial Culture Office and the Peranakan Association of Thailand on Saturday launched an exhibition of kebaya and other traditional Peranakan dress at the Limelight shopping mall in Phuket Town. The exhibition continues through Wednesday (Mar 13).
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand have jointly nominated the kebaya for the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list.