Wildlife / Inside World's Wildest Party Where Monkeys Have Buffet And It Has a Ramayana Connection
·4 months ago·2 min read
Key Points
- Thailand’s Lopburi hosts the unique Monkey Buffet Festival each November.
- Over 2,000 macaques feast on 4 tons of fruits, desserts and soft drinks.
- Festival inspired by Thailand’s Ramakein epic and linked to Hanuman worship.
Bangkok, Nov 29: Imagine a party where the guests swing in the air and grab all the food! If not, then welcome to Lopburi, Thailand, home of the amazing Monkey Buffet Festival.
Every year on the last Sunday of November, this city turns into a banquet for thousands of long-tailed macaques.
Tables are filled with vegetables and fruits like watermelon, papaya, mangoes, bananas, sticky rice, various kinds of jellies, candies, and even soft drinks and many more that can make any human drool, but these are not for the people to enjoy, but for the monkeys to devour.
The Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand was first started in 1989 by businessman Yongyouth Kitwatananusont, inspired by the Ramakein epic (Thailand's version of the Indian Ramayana), where the monkey god Hanuman is mentioned, and because of the deep cultural and religious beliefs that link monkeys to luck and prosperity. Over time, this tradition of offering food to monkeys has grown into a major annual event that celebrates the bond between humans and wildlife. For the people of Lopburi, it is not just a fun celebration but a way to preserve their identity, honor their traditions, and encourage coexistence with the monkey population that has long been part of their city.
Each year around more than 4 tons of fruits, vegetables, and desserts are artistically arranged for over 2000 macaques around the 13th-century temple premises of Phra Prang Sam Yot in Lopburi. The festival features four buffet rounds throughout the day, offering visitors multiple chances to witness the lively spectacle.
The celebrations start with a performance of dancers dancing while wearing monkey costumes to call the monkeys, and guess what! It works. The celebration takes place throughout the city, and one can see thousands of monkeys everywhere.
Then the host of the festival unwraps the vibrant buffet. The monkeys rush to the tables, climb to the fruit piles, and steal the treats. It's funny and amazing all at once. The residents and the tourists dance and sing while the monkeys enjoy the feast wholeheartedly.
Also Read: This Tribe Digs Up Their Dead Years Later, What They Do Next Will Shock You
This story is compiled by Aditi Majhi.
Every year on the last Sunday of November, this city turns into a banquet for thousands of long-tailed macaques.
Tables are filled with vegetables and fruits like watermelon, papaya, mangoes, bananas, sticky rice, various kinds of jellies, candies, and even soft drinks and many more that can make any human drool, but these are not for the people to enjoy, but for the monkeys to devour.
The Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand was first started in 1989 by businessman Yongyouth Kitwatananusont, inspired by the Ramakein epic (Thailand's version of the Indian Ramayana), where the monkey god Hanuman is mentioned, and because of the deep cultural and religious beliefs that link monkeys to luck and prosperity. Over time, this tradition of offering food to monkeys has grown into a major annual event that celebrates the bond between humans and wildlife. For the people of Lopburi, it is not just a fun celebration but a way to preserve their identity, honor their traditions, and encourage coexistence with the monkey population that has long been part of their city.
Each year around more than 4 tons of fruits, vegetables, and desserts are artistically arranged for over 2000 macaques around the 13th-century temple premises of Phra Prang Sam Yot in Lopburi. The festival features four buffet rounds throughout the day, offering visitors multiple chances to witness the lively spectacle.
The celebrations start with a performance of dancers dancing while wearing monkey costumes to call the monkeys, and guess what! It works. The celebration takes place throughout the city, and one can see thousands of monkeys everywhere.
Then the host of the festival unwraps the vibrant buffet. The monkeys rush to the tables, climb to the fruit piles, and steal the treats. It's funny and amazing all at once. The residents and the tourists dance and sing while the monkeys enjoy the feast wholeheartedly.
Also Read: This Tribe Digs Up Their Dead Years Later, What They Do Next Will Shock You
This story is compiled by Aditi Majhi.
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