Yasothon

Yasothon (Thai: ยโสธร) is a city in the Isan region of north-eastern Thailand and the capital of the province of the same name. It lies a little more than 500 km northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok.

The population of Yasothon in 2005 was 21,600.

Yasothon Rocket Festival

Bun Bungfai (บุญบั้งไฟ), or the Yasothon Rocket Festival is held annually in May at Phaya Thaen Park. The festival's origins lie in a custom of firing fireworks into the sky at the start of the rice-growing season to encourage rain.

The festival now takes the form of a competition to see whose rocket will stay aloft for the longest time. The competition is marked by a day of highly-decorated floats parading through the town accompanied by partying, dancing and music.

In 1999, the Yasothon Rocket Festival made world headlines when a 120 kg rocket exploded, killing five persons.

Transport

Yasothon lies on Route 202; there are no rail or air connections.

Places of interest

* Phra That Yasothon – a Thai chedi or stupa over 1000 years old, said to contain a relic of Ananda, a favoured disciple of the Buddha. An annual festival is held in March to honour the temple.
* That Kong Khao Noi – a chedi southwest of Yasothon in the village of Tat Thong, housing a statue of Buddha. Each April the statue is bathed in a ceremony to call for rains.
* Tat Thong is also an excavation site of a prehistoric settlement.