The Truth Behind the "Naga Fireballs"—It's So Thai, All Too Thai
The trailer of "Mekong Full Moon Party"
Have you heard of the mysterious "fireballs of the Mekong River"?
This phenomenon occurs every year on the first full moon day between October and November, coinciding with the end of the Buddhist Lent, a significant religious holiday. Mysterious fireballs rise from the Mekong River, attracting countless spectators to Nong Khai Province annually. Over time, this event has become an important tourist attraction in northeastern Thailand.
The explanation often given is that Naga, the mythical serpent deity living in the Mekong, releases the fireballs to express gratitude to the Buddha. However, this seemingly hastily crafted narrative reeks of a fabricated mythology—at least, that was my first impression.
In truth, this story was debunked long ago as neither a supernatural occurrence nor a unique natural phenomenon. To spoil the mystery upfront, the so-called fireballs are actually signal flares launched from the Laotian side of the river.
What follows is a documentary aired by the now-defunct ITB in 2002, which provided visual evidence to support this claim.
I’d like you to pay attention to around 25:30 in the video clip. When a villager from Laos launches a flare, you can hear cheers rising from the Thai side across the Mekong River.
Both Laos and northeastern Thailand share similar ethnic backgrounds, and as a result, their cultures and customs are nearly identical. However, Laos, having experienced a long civil war, has a custom of firing "celebratory cannons" into the sky to mark Buddhist holidays (the end of the Buddhist Lent). Thai people on the opposite shore, witnessing this, cheered, thinking, “It's a fireball!”—and that is the truth behind the event. (Given that it has now become a regional tourist attraction, there may even be a form of “contractual relationship” between the two sides, though this point was not addressed in the program.)
It was the ITB's flagship program at the time, Tottorahat (meaning "Solving Mysteries"), that exposed the “Naga’s lie.” The local backlash was intense, as the fireballs had contributed significantly to the revival of the local economy. As a result, it is said that the program’s producer was demoted for exposing the truth. From the program’s perspective, it must have felt like “a stone flows and leaves sink,” as the saying goes.
Even after this program aired, the "Naga Fireball" event continued to draw large crowds every year, bringing a significant amount of money to the local economy. The media continued to broadcast the fireball event as a local spectacle, with reports focusing on how many fireballs had been launched that year, driven by mere curiosity. The attitude seemed to be, “Whether it’s true or not, as long as it’s fun, it’s fine. It would be foolish to ruin the party.”
However, it seems the tide has started to turn. The Thai government, which should prioritize local tourism revenue, has officially acknowledged the truth about the "Naga Fireballs"—that it was a lie. The following is from a program called Sci Find provided by the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology.
After presenting the scientific viewpoint that "the gas accumulated in the Mekong River may ignite, but it doesn’t have enough propulsion to form fireballs that shoot up into the sky," the aforementioned ITB program is quoted, pointing out that based on the color of the fireballs, they are actually flares launched from the opposite bank of Laos.
Furthermore, a group of volunteers from Pantip, the largest Thai online forum (similar to Japan’s 2chan but with fewer goship elements), conducted a four-hour automatic photo shoot, capturing one shot every 30 seconds. Their conclusion was that all of the fireballs visible as tracers were launched from the Laos side, and none of them emerged from the river's surface. Meanwhile, the Thai onlookers continued to cheer as they watched the fireballs in the sky.
In the program, Professor Chetta from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science points out one of the strange aspects of the fireball phenomenon:
"Every year, TV crews come to film, but there has never been a shot showing fireballs rising from the river’s surface."
On this point, I once had a discussion with a senior cameraman, who stubbornly insisted, "I’ve seen fireballs rise from the river’s surface and even filmed them." However, a few days later, he called me, sounding disappointed, saying,
"After reviewing the footage, I can't really say they came from the water..."
IIt’s strange that a usually objective journalist like him made such a hasty misjudgment. Perhaps the Naga deity has the power to induce mass hypnosis.
That aside, the professor in the program also responds to a question from a female reporter, who is acting as a representative of the ignorant public, and says the following:
"Why is it that we don’t hear gunshots if they are flares? The width of the Mekong River is about one kilometer, and it takes about three seconds for the sound to reach. Since the light is seen immediately, the cheers of the spectators drown out the sound of the flares."
Additionally, the reason the fireballs appear to rise slowly is due to the angle of viewing. When seen from a distance and from the front, fireballs shot at an upward angle appear to float upward slowly.
With these scientific explanations and revelations, it has become difficult to continue to strongly assert "the miracle of the Naga." Recently, tourist attendance at the "Fireball Festival" has reportedly been declining. To make matters worse, the event has been restricted due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In any case, isn't it time to put an end to this "Thai phenomenon" that is ”So Thai, All Too Thai”.
Otherwise, the staff of the TV program, who courageously exposed the truth behind the Naga Fireballs, will never be able to rest easy after being unfairly accused and penalized for their dedication to factual reporting!
However… perhaps this is too serious a way of thinking, which is "So Japanese, All Too Japanese".
Almost simultaneously with the broadcast of the ITB exposé, a film called "Mekong Full Moon Party" was released. This well-made small film depicts the human drama surrounding the fireball phenomenon. While it reveals about 90 percent of the truth, in the last scene, it miraculously wraps everything up in a happy ending.
This is a classic technique of social comedy, where reality is portrayed realistically, but in the end, it satisfies the audience's desire for a happy ending, reminiscent of Frank Capra’s (and the masterpiece "It’s a Wonderful Life") way of saving everything through a fantasy at the end.
I won’t go into further detail to avoid spoilers, but to be frank, there is no more "irresponsible" ending than this. However, thanks to that, the film achieved commercial success without being boycotted, earned praise as a good work, and the Naga fireball legend, which is considered a "golden egg-laying dragon" for the local residents, has been able to continue as a popular tourist event.
Below is the theme song of this movie, titled 'Faith or Reason?' The title seems to hint that the creators are giving a knowing wink, suggesting they understand the situation. We must commend that 'Thai, too Thai' wisdom of the production staff, who, while maintaining a basic level of intellectual integrity, managed to make the film a hit and kept intact the commercial value of the local tourism resource.
Further information :
According to a Khaosod article dated October 30, 2023, on the day marking the end of the rainy season retreat (Vassa), only 61 fireballs had been launched by 8 PM. Assoc. Prof. Chetta Daenduangboriphan from Chulalongkorn University offered the following explanation for this:
"It is clear that the fireballs being launched from the opposite bank to celebrate the end of the rainy season retreat are 'celebratory cannon shots.' The reason for the fewer number of fireballs is likely due to the economic downturn on the Laos side. The theory that gas accumulated in the river explodes into fireballs is simply absurd. Isn't it time to accept the truth?"
However, in the end, the 'Naga Fireball Event' was held on a grand scale again last year, with Prime Minister Settha Thavisin in attendance. According to reports from Thai Rath and other sources, the 'fireball situation' improved afterward, and more than 200 fireballs were eventually launched. Whether this was due to deference to the Prime Minister remains something better left unsaid
Khaosod
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