Samutprakarn was founded during the Ayutthaya Period. The administrative center of the old community, known as Muang Prapadaeng, was in an area currently the location of Prapadaeng District. It was a sea port for foreign merchandise ships that traded with Thailand.
Along the coast, forts, town moats and town-walls were constructed as a stronghold against hostile forces. During the Thonburi Period, King Tak Sin ordered dismantlement of the town-walls. In the Ratanakosin Period, King Rama II was afraid that this town might have been used by the enemy as a route to transport their troops and supplies. The King thus had Muang Samutprakarn constructed in Tambon Paknam in 1819. The construction was completed in three years, with six forts being built on both sides of the Chao Phraya River. Only three could be finished in this reign -- Prakaisit Fort, Nagaraj Fort and Phi Sua Samut Fort. King Rama II visited the site of construction several times.
By the royal command, a chedi, by the name of “Phra Samut Chedi,” was erected on an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River.
Unfortunately, the King passed away before the completion of the whole new town, leaving the construction to be resumed and completed in the reign of King Rama III, with three more forts to be added – Tri Petch Fort, Kongkapun Fort and Sua Sonlep Fort.King Rama V Pra Samut Chedi renovated the height of the chedi being elevated, and one more fort by the coast being built, named "Phra Chulachomklao Fort". At present, only Phi Sua Smut Fort and Phra Chilachomklao Fort remain a good condition whereas others are dilapidated.
[ Phra Samut Chedi Worship Festival ] This is the great fair for which people from all over the country come to worship the revered chedi. The fair is held annually for 9 days and 9 nights, starting from the fifth day of the waning moon in the eleventh month of the lunar calendar. During the festival, there are contests held for the best-looking procession in presenting the cloth to cover the Phra Samut Chedi. The procession will be run through the streets around the Pak Nam Market, then be brought onto boats going down the Chao Phraya River until it reaches the Phra Pradaeng District Office and return to Ong Phra Samut Chedi. There are also the walk around the Phra Samut Chedi (wian tian walk, while holding lighted candles, around a temple), boat racing in the Chao Phraya River, local entertainments, and many local products on sale. Getting there: from Samut Prakan town to Phra Samut Chedi, there are daily boat ferries in front of Wibunsri Market around the clock.
[ A Boat-race in front of Muang Phra Pradaeng ]
[ Luang Pho Pan Worship Fair ] | |
It is held yearly on the first Sunday after Songkran Day (April 13th). The townspeople in cooperation with Amphoe Muang Phra Pradaeng celebrate the Songkran Day according to the local Songkran Festival of Raman (Mon) people. Songkran beauty pageants parade, freeing birds and fish, and traditional folk entertainment such as Saba (a pitch and toss game), Thayaemon (a musical composition of Mon) and Mon dancing are included in this fair.
This is a festival which goes back a long, long time for the Bang Phli people and which have been followed by generations after one another. It is held yearly on the thirteenth day and the early morning of the fourteenth day of the waxing moon in the eleventh month of the lunar calendar. The festival consists of worshipping and parading of Luang Pho To, both on land and by boat, competitions of local activities such as arranging a lotus tray, boat decoration contests, and folk entertainments such as Phleng Rua (traditional singing in boats). In the early morning of the fourteenth day, the Yon Bua Festival is held, people will toss lotus onto the boat bearing the Luang Pho To Buddha image. They also toss lotus to the people from out of town in boats who also come to join in the festival as a sign of making merit together.
This boat-race has been continually organized since Phra Pradaeng held the position of a province up until now. The race falls on the fourth day of the waning moon, the eleventh lunar month of every year. 
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