In Kon Fon Kan

In Kon Fon Kan

                   This ethnic festival is a Lao Song or Tai Song Dum tradition. The Tai Song Dum ethnic people in western Thailand originally had lived on the left bank of the Mekhong River. They were relocated several times: in 1779 (Thonburi time), 1792 (King Rama III time), 1828 and 1836. They settled down first in Petchaburi, then later were scattered to new nearby locations in Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Suphanburi.

                   The In Kon Fon Kan festival is held during the 5th month of the lunar calendar. The word “kon” refers to a ball that is thrown in a traditional folk game, the “in kon”. In the old days, this folk play was very popular among the young Lao Song, in their free time after the farming activities. They would gather in a group of about 15-20. The meeting place, the khuang, was the house where young girls got together and did some craft work. It was an opportunity for the boys and girls to get acquainted, which could lead to a more intimate relationship, and eventually to marriage. The whole 5th month was the time of joy and fun. The young people took a long break from work. The boys forming a group of 15-20 would roam the other villages in order to len kon (play the traditional game of throwing balls – the luk chuang). Each ball that was specially aimed at a certain girl had the meaning that he was courting her. Playing the luk chuang also included the fon khan, i.e. doing a traditional dance to the music of the khan (mouth organ, a popular folk musical instrument in the Isan region).

                   In the game of luk chuang, or tod ma kon, 5-6 male players stand facing the other team of 5-6 female players. The ball is a square-shaped one made with cloth and stuffed with kapok seeds, and with a 2-foot string attached to it. The male party starts the game by inviting the other team to catch the ball thrown at them. The ball is thrown back by the opposite team, who also ask from the male players some small favors like a wrist watch, or a traditional loin cloth (worn by a man). The game is played until they need a break, during which time they all sing their traditional songs. Then it is time the women prepare their breakfast. The men linger around with the women and offer a few services (proof of their diligence) such as chopping up firewood, pounding grains, fetching water, etc. This is actually a good chance to get to know the opposite sex. After the meal, they take a rest. In the evening, they meet again. The sing love songs. They do traditional dances accompanied by the khan music.

                   Around midnight, the men start to woo the women and win their favor. While courting a woman, the man needs to recall which woman caught his attention during the in kon game. He needs to identity her and inform the khuang leader. This is because the woman (actually all the women) covers her face with a dark breast shawl. The purpose is to test the man’s memory, or attention. The khuang leader asks a number of questions about the woman’s description. If he can correctly identify her, he will then go and stand in front of her. The couple is then allowed to leave and to sit down somewhere together to chat. Those who cannot find someone they like continue singing and chanting about their nice hometown. The khuang leader takes care that the women are not molested by the men. The in kon activities which last for about 1 month after the harvest season actually provide single men and women the time to get acquainted and finally to be able to tie the knot.

                   With the passage of time and the social changes that occurred, this tradition has lost some of its significance as an ethnic identity. The people therefore are trying to restore it in the form of an annual cultural festival. In the festival, they wear traditional costumes, do the Lao Song songs and dances. They also create a social network in connection with the festival and get support from some state agencies. They have the different Tai Dum villages take turns organizing the event. The one held at Ban Hua Khao Chin in Amphoe Pak Tho of Ratchaburi Province was scheduled on 13th April 2004. The dates and programs of the In Kon Fon Kan are announced publicly so that the people will know where the events will take place. The festive time lasts from around the end of March to early April.

In Kon Fon Kan at Ban Hua Khao Chin

                   The Ban Hua Khao Chin event is scheduled on April 13 of every year. Those held in the other villages take place on fixed dates too; for example, in Ban Tup Khang it is on April 18. This is due to the fact that the events are organized officially and jointly by the local administrative offices, the cultural offices and the religious offices. Also it is because of the budgets and the public relations work involved. The change of this kind has taken place for 15-20 years already.

                   At Ban Hua Khao Chin, the 2004 event started with a morning merit-making ceremony. Monks were invited to perform religious rites, later to eat lunch, and then to conduct the rite of dedicating the merits to the deceased. The housewife group prepared food in the large kitchen of the Cultural Office. Elderly women and young girls were dressed up in their traditional Lao Song costumes. They wore make-up and had their hair in a bun at the top – the Lao Song style. All were prepared to welcome visitors from the other villages. There were demonstrations of the In Kon and local stage performances. The festival venue was the courtyard across from the Tai Song Dum Cultural Center of Ban Hua Khao Chin. Visitor registration was done in front of the Center Building. Buffet meals were available in the yard of Ban Hua Khao Chin School. The food was displayed on wooden stretchers. Small booths selling goods were seen all around the area. The guests all came in the traditional Lao Song outfits.

                   The Ratchaburi governor presided over the opening ceremony. Next were the shows. There were 3 khan bands with their own dancers. Dance steps alternated in accordance with the rhythms of the khan music. A lot of watchers joined the dances. The fun continued until midnight.

About In Kon Fon Kan at Ban Hua Khao Chin

                   Old village folks have an explanation about the village name. This area in yesteryear was surrounded by the sea. Chinese merchants arrived in their junks to trade with local folks. Once an accident happened and a junk sank. The prow was broken, drifted and got stuck at a mountain. “Hua” means head; “Khao” is a mountain; “Chin” is Chinese. During King Rama III’s reign, a large number of the Lao Song were forced as captives to move from the left bank of the Mekhong River to the areas in Siam now known as Petchaburi and Ratchaburi provinces. Ban Hua Khao Chin was an early Lao Song settlement. The people, however, have retained their traditional lifestyle and culture until today.

ชีวสิทธิ์ บุณยเกียรติ.(2557).ประเพณี อิ้นก๋อนฟ้อนแก๊น,3 มีนาคม 2558. ฐานข้อมูลงานวิจัยทางชาติพันธุ์: http://www.sac.or.th/databases/ethnicredb/articles_detail.php?id=1638 (in Thai)

พรพิมล ชันแสง. (2541). อิ่นก๋อน: ประเพณีการละเล่นของลาวโซ่ง อำเภอเขาย้อย จังหวัดเพชรบุรี. นครปฐม: บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล. (in Thai)

สมทรง บุรุษพัฒน์.(2524). การเล่นคอนของลาวโซ่งที่บางกุ้ง. นครปฐม: สถาบันวิจัยภาษาและวัฒนธรรมเพื่อพัฒนาชนบท มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล. (in Thai)