Music blasted from parade floats shattered several antiques in a museum in Chaiyaphum, northeastern Thailand. Chaiyaphum Ancient Textile Museum owner Dr Komkrich Ritkhachorn said Bai Sri Boon caused ‘severe damage’ to the exhibitions on April 22.
Incident Details
Dr Ritkhachorn stated in a since-deleted Facebook post that as parade-goers passed Chai Prasit Road, the music was so loud it shook display cases. The cultural researcher blamed the approximately 100 parade trucks equipped with giant loudspeakers, locally known as rod hae, for the damage. Photographs showed shattered pottery scattered on the museum floor, with some display pedestals nearly empty.
Owner's Statement
Dr Ritkhachorn said: ‘Was it worth it to turn this place into the city of rod hae when it causes trouble for people? I have no objection to the parade. But can organisers reduce the noise level so that it will not cause any damage?’
The 10km-long procession featured more than 150 floats, some more than two metres tall, according to local news outlet Matichon. The days-long celebration in the Muang district honours Chao Pho Phaya Lae, a Lao immigrant who died fighting in the late 19th century.
Concerns Over Tradition
Dr Ritkhachorn told the Tourism and Environment News Agency that he has no issue with the Bai Sri Boon parade. ‘If the competition continues based on who is louder and who creates the most impact, ultimately, it’s not just the artefacts in the museum that will be destroyed, but the meaning of the religious ceremony itself,’ he said. ‘What started as an event of faith will gradually become something that local people become weary of and apprehensive about.’
Local and provincial judges visited the museum on April 24 to inspect the damage, Dr Ritkhachorn added.
Broader Implications
As many museums have prepared for the worst, like earthquakes and heavy construction, day-to-day noise isn’t one of them, researchers say. A study by the National Museum Cardiff found that the museum’s own displays were being slowly rattled around by visitors shuffling around or gigs down the road. Objects may slowly ‘wander’ around because vibrations slowly erode them – an ancient Egyptian statue was caught in 2013 spinning around in its case for several days in Manchester Museum in New Hampshire.
