Chiang Mai’s annual Inthakin Festival, the traditional Lanna ceremony of worship at the city pillar, drew large numbers to Wat Chedi Luang this week, with the occasion marked not only by religious observance but by community generosity.
Phra Khru Od, a famous local monk, joined forces with volunteer network leader Por Nan La and the Phet Kasem Foundation to distribute fresh produce — watermelon, cucumber, tomato and sweet pepper — to worshippers and tourists who had come to pay respects at the pillar, the spiritual heart and protective symbol of the city.
The Inthakin Festival is one of Lanna’s oldest and most important annual traditions, centred on the veneration of the city pillar and the belief that the ritual safeguards Chiang Mai, ensuring prosperity and good fortune for its people.