If you’ve ever visited Thailand, you’ll know that the country is no stranger to ancient and longstanding traditions. However, few are quite as unique as the Um Phra Dam Nam Festival, during which a sacred Buddha image is ceremonially submerged in water.
The Um Phra Dam Nam Festival takes place this year from October 8th to 17th, 2026, in Phetchabun Province.
The origins of the Um Phra Dam Nam Festival
Literally translating to “diving while holding a Buddha image,” the origins of the Um Phra Dam Nam Festival can be traced back over 400 years to a local legend surrounding Phetchabun’s sacred “Phra Phuttha Maha Thammaracha.”
According to the legend, a group of villagers were fishing along the Pa Sak River when they noticed something unusual near the Wang Makham Faep riverbend. It is said that a whirlpool had formed in the water, from which a Buddha image emerged. The fishermen retrieved the image and brought it to Wat Trai Phum, where it was enshrined.
The following year, on the 15th waning-moon day of the 10th lunar month, the sacred image was said to have mysteriously disappeared from the temple. It was later found at the same spot where it had first appeared along the Pa Sak River, repeatedly sinking beneath and resurfacing from the water.
Following its rediscovery, the Buddha image was returned to Wat Trai Phum and given the name “Phra Phuttha Maha Thammaracha,” which roughly translates to “the Great Dharmic King Buddha.”
The Um Phra Dam Nam Festival today
From then on, every 15th waning-moon day of the 10th lunar month, the sacred image would be carried to the Pa Sak River for its ceremonial submersion, with Phetchabun’s governor traditionally performing the ritual.
Over time, the tradition evolved into the Um Phra Dam Nam Festival celebrated today. The ceremony is closely associated with hopes for seasonal rainfall, the well-being of the Phetchabun community, and protection from disease.
About Phetchabun
Phetchabun is located in Thailand’s lower northern region, nestled within the broad and fertile valley of the Pa Sak River.
Known for its sweet tamarind and scenic national parks, the province is also home to the ancient town of Si Thep, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where some of Thailand’s oldest Sanskrit inscriptions have been discovered.