The Mystery of Naga Fireball

Have you ever heard of or believed in the water creature that is known as Naga? I believe that Thai people know well about this phenomenon and most of them say there is evidence indicating their presence in Mekong River.

Naga Fireballs - An Image of the Naga Spitting Fireballs

On the night of 15^th day of 11^th lunar month at the end of Buddhist Lent each year, the extraordinary event occurs in the area of the Mekong River as it has flaming orbs rising up from the river and it annually attracts people from all regions of the country gathering to observe the amazing event. Fireballs usually occur in several districts such as Pak-Ngeum district about 80 kilometres in south of the Lao capital Vientiane and Phonephisai district in Nong Khai, Thailand.

According to the description going back over 100 years by people both sides of the Mekhong River, there were something strange happened in the middle of the Mekong River at the end of Buddhist Lent. What they saw was a pink – red fireballs rising up and floating into the sky very high and then disappear. So, everyone began to doubt what that was and then accepted what they saw as the fireball and thought that it was not staged by humans, but happen naturally. Since then, villagers called this phenomenon the Naga’s Fireball and they believed that Naga shoot the fireball in order to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent.

Naga Fireballs - The Mysterious Red Pink Orb

There is the evidence that the Naga animal has been associated with Buddhism for along time as you can see statues of Naga in many temples. Moreover, the Naga was a servant of Lord Buddha in his last life and there are many pictures and statues of Lord Buddha meditating under the shad of the head of the Naga.

Lord Buddha meditating under the shad of the head of the Naga

Base on the Buddhist Legend, the Naga or the king serpents living in underwater dwellings could change their physical appearance to be anything like human. Once he came to know the Lord Buddha, he admired and respected Buddhist teaching and asked if he could ordain as a monk, but Lord Buddha refused because Naga was an animal and could not be ordained like a human. Although he was not allowed to ordained, the Naga volunteered to be a bodyguard of Lord Buddha and studied Buddhism.

Now each year, Lao and Thais make a fireboat decorated by candles, flowers and flaming torches to place in the Mekong River released on the night of the end of Buddhist Lent. The sight is very beautiful. People on both side come to watch the beautiful boat and enjoy the Naga’s fireball with joyful. However, according to residents, they say the Naga’s fireball does not only occur in the Mekong River, but also in the ponds and rice fields.

The phenomenon of the Naga’s fireball may be odd to outsiders or foreigners, but it has long been for our belief and normal for our local as we see it every year and pass it to each other. These days, Thai government has been announcing this phenomenon through radio, television and newspapers and it has become interesting event for outsiders.

Therefore, after Buddhist Lent ends, a lot of people (Laos, Thais and foreigners) flow to see this event and this cause traffic congestion along the roads of Pak – Ngeum and Phonephisai district located in the Lao and Thai sides of the Mekong River.

Naga Fireballs - Ceremony to Sacred the Naga

Naga Fireballs - People Gathering on the Border of Mekong

Due to its well – known event, many people have expressed their thought about the truth behind it. Some think of scientific term, but some believe in the ways of culture.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, they said “The fireball is caused by an explosion of gas deposited under the Mekong River, and it happens at a certain time of year.” (October 2005) and another source said, “It is not gas under the Mekong River, because the bottom of the river is sand where gas cannot be deposited. The fireball is staged by humans.”

Uncle Phoh, 93, the most elderly of the residents in Nong Khiate village where the Naga's fireball appears a lot, said: "I have been seeing this phenomenon since I was a child and I call it the Naga's fireball in accordance with what my elders told me. It happens naturally and no one stages the event."

But Souksakhone, a 23-year-old native of Pak-Ngeum district studying at the National University of Laos, observed: "It does not matter that I still call this phenomenon the Naga's fireball, because I have seen it since I was a child. The scientific explanation has not been absolutely proven. According to the explanation of scientists on Thai TV programmes (in 2002), it is only guesswork and there are still doubts about it."

However, no matter what causes the fireball, I am out of opinion that the supernatural phenomenon has been through generations to generations for along time and it becomes part of their life and In addition, no one could prove it even scientists, so I think the event is a great opportunity for Thai people to come to cerebrate the end of Buddhist Lent and enjoy or have fun with a significant religious event.

Naga Fireballs - Watching Spots in Nong Khai