Esarn Culture

E-sarn's Diverse Culture

Known by Thais as E-sarn or Isan, a local name that connotes prosperity and vastness, the Northern region of Thailand is bordered to the north and east by the Mekong River and Laos and largely by Kampuchea at the south.

E-sarn is famous for producing a substantial number of Muay Thai boxers which provides an opportunity to escape poverty. It is one of the more prominent aspects of E-sarn culture alongside its music and food.

Northeastern Thailand is home to different cultures and lifestyles although E-sarn's culture is predominantly Lao.

The similarity with that of its neighbouring country - Laos can be readily seen in the region's cuisine, clothing, architecture, festival and arts. The area is known as a center of historical cities and age-old civilizations.

Obscurity?

E-sarn is probably the least known region of Thailand among foreign visitors in spite of occupying almost one third of the Thailand's total area. However, the number of tourists discovering its unique natural and historical attractions is steadily increasing. Part of its attraction lies in its unique customs and traditions as reflected in their fairs and festivals.

E-sarn's Distinctive Culture

Cuisine
Northeastern food has the elements of both Thai and Lao cuisines but is quite distinct from them. Food is highly seasoned and glutinous rice is a staple whether as a base for other dishes or as a sweet.

Popular dishes include the som tam (papaya salad), larb (meat salad), gai yang (grilled chicken). Freshwater fish and shrimp are the main sources of protein as meat is often scarce in the villages. A wide variety of creatures such as lizards, frogs and insects are eaten by the people of the region. This was originally due to scarcity of food. It has now become a delicacy for E-sarn people to savour.

The sarong is the E-sarn traditional dress. The sarongs of women usually have embroidered border at the hem while the men's sport a chequered pattern.

Men also wear the pakama which is a length of cloth that can alternatively be used as a belt, hammock or bathing garment. Beautiful hand-woven cloth that can be done in different styles and colours using thread obtained from a plant found in the area is known as the E-sarn cloth.

Architecture
A Wat or Buddhist temple built in Lao style is the principal feature of most villages. They have less ornamentation than those found in Central Thailand although there is a prevalence of Buddha images.

Festivals

The traditional festivals celebrated by the E-sarn people include the following:

Bun Bungfai Rocket Festival - a fertility rite originating in pre-Buddhist times. The Candle Festival - marks the start of Buddhist Lent in July. Then the Silk Festival in Khon Kaen - promotes local handicrafts. Also, the Elephant Round-Up in Surin - features various elephant performances.

Places of Interest

Places of Interest
- Ban Chiang area is where evidence of the Bronze Age civilization was discovered
- Prasat Hin Phimai and Phanom Ruang are some of the finest classical Khmer ruins outside Cambodia
- Khao Yai is the region's best known national park and wildlife reserve

Music

The indigenous music of E-sarn is called mor lam which exists in several regional variants plus some modern forms. Other forms of music are the E-sarn luk thung originally from Central Thailand and the kantrum, a form of folk music popular with the Khmer minority in the south. E-sarn music is widely accepted by the rest of Thailand.