Reliving old lifestyles and lore

Fashion Island on Ram Intra Road is transforming its first floor into a temple ground for the 17th Temple Fair Festival, to take everyone back to the good old days, from tomorrow to Sept 17.

Childhood memories will resurface, along with traditional games and rides usually found at temple fairs, such as the classic Ferris wheel, Dunk Tank Girl, shooting games and Lucky Eggs. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charity.

Replicas of Buddha statues from five famous royal temples located on the two sides of the Chao Phraya River will be temporarily housed at the shopping mall for visitors to pay respect and pray for good fortune.

They are replicas of Phra Buddha Triratanayok from Wat Kalayanamitr, Phra Buddha Dhammisarat Lokkathatdilok from Wat Arun (the royal temple of King Rama II), Phra Prathan Yim Rap Fah from Wat Rakhang, Buddha Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn from Temple of the Emerald Buddha (aka Wat Phra Kaew) and the Reclining Buddha from Wat Phra Chetuphon (aka Wat Pho).

The festival will also portray different atmospheres and ways of life, from many communities along the riverside, through many zones. They include Wat Pho, Na Phra Larn (Royal Porch), Ratchadamnoen, Saphan Phut (Memorial Bridge), Bang Lamphu, Bangkok Noi and Bangkok Yai.

This is also an opportunity to retrace the famous legends of guardian giants, at Wat Arun and at Wat Pho. The stories have been recounted among Chao Phraya riverside locals since ancient times.