Thainess in Contemporary Traditions of Northeastern, Thailand: State, Capital, Power, and Ethnic Groups

Abstract

This article aims to explore how Thainess is portrayed in contemporary Esan traditions as in 1) Illuminated Boat Procession, Nakon Panom province 2) Wax Castle Festival, Sakon Nakon province 3) Candle Procession, Ubon Rachatani province 4) Rocket Festival, Yasothon province, 5) Phi Ta Khon, Loei province and 6) Song Nang Goddess Worship, Mukdahan province. It was highlighted that these traditions do not only portray religious beliefs but also represent social ideology as nationalism and nation building repeatedly to create nationhood. In other word, some local traditions were recreated as renaming and reinventing ways of Thai tradition. This invention was meant to institutionalize and pin down the ideal of constructing local tradition meanings underneath modern power relationship among institution, capital, and globalization.
Additionally, the article points out that Thainess represented in contemporary Esan traditions portrays changes in constructing tradition meanings from time to time. In the past, a tradition could be defined as one certain meaning but when time has changed, that tradition would be defined another meaning. This becomes more complex since institution and capitalism take an action on inventing values to build up political power. Moreover, it has been adopted to be part of national regime so that local Thai traditions could play a role in tourism and cross-nation relationship. Esan traditions become famous and are being supported and shifted to be part of nation building in terms of economic and politic as adding Thainess to Esan traditions intentionally.