CULTURAL IDENTITY OF FORN HANG NOK-YOONG IN FORN BHU CHA PHRA THARD PHANOM

Abstract

         “Forn Hang Nok-Yoong” is a worship dance performed at Phra That Phanom temple in Nakhon Phanom province, usually to show reverence to Buddhists who have devotion to Phra That Phanom. This research aims to study cultural identity and the history of the “Forn Hang Nok-Yoong” in the Buddhist Lent tradition at Wat Phra That Phanom, That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom province. By studying paper work and collecting data in the field through surveys, observations and interviews. The tools used for data collection were observation form and interview form, from 3 experts, 20 practitioners, 20 audience members, 43 people in total. The results of the data analysis were presented by descriptive analysis method.    

         The results revealed that Forn Hang Nok-Yoong was used in the worship Phra That Phanom in the tradition of the end of Buddhist Lent. It shows the identity that appears in the form of performance has its own distinctive identity, the culture of beliefs that have been cultivated from past to present. It has developed some forms, but still retains the unique identity of the performance.In addition, “Forn Hang Nok-Yoong” has been modified according to the era and to the social context of every period. The dance also provides the belief of warding off the bad spirit from the people’s lives and bring prosperity to lives which is one of the beliefs in Southeast Asia.Therefore, the “Forn Hang Nok-Yoong” is present in the society of the Isan people and has become a heritage preserved for the wisdom that has been passed down to the people of Nakhon Phanom to maintain it.