บุญบั้งไฟตะไล | Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival Kalasin

The annual Rocket Festival known as Bun Fung Fai is held every May and June in a few provinces of Northeastern Thailand, or ‘Issan’ as it’s more commonly known. As rainy season approaches, farmers become de-facto rocket scientists, carrying on a tradition that goes back generations. Attention turns from crop yields to propellant mixtures, burn-rates, thruster angles and optimal parachute deployment, among other variables. 

While most well-known in Yasothon and Roiet Provinces, Bun Bung Fai it is also celebrated in neighbouring Kalasin. The premier Kalasin event is held in Baan Kut Wa (กุดหว้า), Kuchinarai District. On the Saturday beforehand there is an epic parade that veers between respectful and bawdy. Anyone who has visited the northeast knows that Issan loves to party.

What makes the Kalasin event unique are the ‘Bung Fai Dtalai’, or spinning rockets. Other provinces use the traditional long rocket design, but ‘Dtalai-style’ rockets are arguably more dramatic; slowly gaining momentum while corkscrewing up into the clouds. Successful flights are met with cheers by the team, as each of these represents weeks of work and investment.

Rockets are categorized by size: 10,000 Rocket, 100,000 Rocket, 1,000,000 Rocket and on up. Rules are simple; the winner of each category is the team whose rocket stays aloft the longest. The parachute must release at the absolute peak of the arc to maximize airtime. Atmospheric conditions play a huge role. I accompanied the Thep Burapha team (‘Eastern Heaven’) as they launched several rockets. Thep Burapha is the reigning record holder of the Kalasin ‘Bung Fai Dtalai Saen’ (100,000 Rocket) category, with airtime of more than 17 minutes.

Launches commence at 7 a.m., with around 60 total for the day. Teams carry their projectiles to the launch site, prayers are said, gas is applied, the fuses are lit and everyone sprints flat-out to get behind sand piles in case the thing explodes; these rockets are essentially bombs designed to burn slowly instead of instantly. The whole thing wraps up late Sunday afternoon when a massive 20,000,000 Rocket, six meters in diameter, successfully launched to massive applause. (Last year it exploded during lift-off.) Many of the rocket scientists miss the end of the day launches, as they are rolling around in mud-pits to cool off. There is possibly some drinking involved. 

Thep Burapha’s 1045 second record stood for another year.