Joining him for the event were Acting Abbot of Phra Nang Sang Temple Phra Kru Promprapatsorn along with chief of the Phuket office of the National Office of Buddhism Winya Paladkwa, Chief of Phuket Cultural Office Uthai Pattanapichai and others.
Gov Norraphat said, “The praying ceremony is held to honour the heroines Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn so that the next generations are aware of the sacrifices they made to protect the land on which they live today.
“Phra Nang Sang Temple is an ancient temple and this was used as a battlefield in the Burmese-Siamese war in 1785.
“In the past the temple was named ‘Ta Kiean’ Temple (Hopea odorata Temple), but the most important relic in the temple ate the three ancient tin Buddha images which are called ‘Phra Nai Pung’ (Inside belly) or ‘Phra Sam Kasat’ (tree metals; gold, pink gold and silver) and are inside the belly of a bigger Buddha image.
“This temple has been respected by local residents for a long time,” he explained.
“This praying ceremony is a part of the Heroines Festival 2018. We invite people to join the Thao Thepkrassatri and Thao Srisoonthorn Festival at the Phuket Historical Park from Mar 11 to 17.,” he added.
The Thao Thepkrassatri and Thao Srisoonthorn Festival is being held from until Mar 17. (See story here.)