Study Background Conservation and Continue Tradition Koew-la-Sang Ban Pru-Jude Bo Hin District Sikao District Trang Province

Abstract

The purposes of this qualitative research were to study background, tradition, problems and obstacles, and conservation of rice farming (Koew-La-Sang) at Prujude Village, Trang Province. The sample was 30 informants whom were selected by purposive sampling. Research tools comprised participated observation, interview, and focus group. Data were analyzed by content analysis. The results revealed as follows. Background: Rice farming (Koew-La-Sang) tradition at Prujude Village, Trang Province has been practiced for more than 80 years. The purposes of this tradition were three folds: to sacrifice Phosop (goddess of rice) for enrich rice farm, to collect and prepare rice seeds for planting next year, and to build good relationship among villagers. Practically, three phases were conducted to arrange this event. Pre-event: leaders and villagers had meeting to set the date, program, and assign function for each person. During event, Monks prayed for rice. Villagers serve rice and food to the monks in the village. After monks finished their lunch, villagers had lunch together. Then villagers bring their simulated boats to the river and left the boats on the river with their belief that bad luck or bad thing would go away. Post-event, leaders and villagers had a meeting to evaluate the event. Problems and Obstacles: The main problems were as following. Too few people joined the event which may be caused by the occurrence of other events at the same time. Young people did not pay attention to the event. The cost of rice and farming product decreased, so they could not organize the event as big as they wanted. To conserve this event, villagers suggested that advertisement needed to be done aggressively, so young people would be motivated to see the value of the event.