For more than 100 years, Bor Sang Village has been associated with the production of umbrellas made from Sa paper derived from mulberry tree bark. The local history has been told that there was a monk traveling to neighboring Myanmar where he came across Sa paper umbrellas that offered protection against both the sun and rain. He returned with the production technique and introduced the umbrella to the elders of Bor Sang village, who added their own artistic skills to create a distinctive colorful, but very practical, umbrella. At first, making umbrellas was just a hobby to do after the annual rice crop, which could supplement villagers’ earnings. The time passed by the production of Sa paper umbrellas got gradually prospered, that prompted villagers to establish a handicraft cooperative in 1941. And now it becomes the annual festival. Villagers use silk and cotton which is weaved by villagers at neighboring Sankampaeng, villagers. After that they add a second line of umbrellas decorated with images of the northern Thailand, its flowers and birds, all intricately hand-painted. Today, Bor Sang Village exports both Sa paper and silk umbrellas. They are seen at trade shows in a variety of sizes, ranging from giant parasols that offer a shady canopy from the sun, to very small variations for cocktail drinks decoration.
Travelers visiting Chiang Mai and the north of Thailand can take this time to join the celebration of the success of Bor Sang Village. This festival is hosted by the village for 3 days every January. The highlight will be to walk on the streets that are illuminated by lanterns. Looking onto each wooden house, it will be pleasant and lovely to see hundreds of umbrellas hung from the rafters and roof beams. There will also be a competition of designing the year’s most attractive umbrella, bands play, concerts, food festival and beauty contest. Better sure that these will attract every audience, tourists and local people.Bor Sang Umbrella and Sankampaeng Handicraft Festival
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- Siripen Yiamjanya
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- Destination: Thailand | Chiang Mai
- Topics: Culture | Travel | Festivals | Shopping | Traditions
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Bor Sang located on highway 1006 that heads east from Chiang Mai seems to be a typical sleepy rural village that tour buses usually stop just for a while for tourists to take a short glimpse of two- storey wooden houses and how to make umbrellas from Sa paper. But if you notice, the hidden thing along the tiny lanes is those villagers who have a perfect artistic skill in handicraft that creates Thailand’s most famous umbrellas.
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Contact Exotissimo Travel.
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Published on 1/9/08
