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Phitsanulok City Pillar

Phitsanulok City Pillar

Phitsanuloks’ City PillarWithin Phitsanulok, there are a series of sacred icons; one significant that couldn’t be missed out would be PhitsanulokCity Pillar. Originally, it was a stone inscription buried beneath the Naan River, but later the item was shifted to a museum. Due to the stone inscriptions’ removal, Phitsanuloks’ mayor during the time, authorized a new City Pillar be built in replacement. There was the gathering of government officials, citizens and a representative from the Fine Arts Department, suggesting thoughts on the new City Pillar. The new construction was to the west of Naan River and the City Pillar is situated within Phitsanuloks’ City Shrine, just opposite to the city hall. The pillar isn’t merely a sacred object, besides; it indicated the harmony of people on both sides of River Kwai.As stated, the City Pillar is situated within the City Shrine. The shrine was built and designed by the Department of Fine Arts. The construction employs the concept of a pagoda. It has 7 levels altogether, and has a base of 16.60 meters in width and 10.65 meters height. The sacred site completed its construction on April 8th, 1997 having Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn present on the grand opening ceremony.As of the City Pillar, it was constructed from 3, renowned, blessed woods. The Pillar is sectioned into 3 parts consisting of the trunk, the upper truck (Tong lookkaew) and the peak. The trunk or in Thai, Lumton, is made from wood of the Golden Shower Tree (CasiaFitsula), the second section, is made from rosewood and the third section, shaped into a lotus, is made from teak. Each type of wood was donated from local villagers to Luang-PuNgonSorayo (Buddhist monk), to carve out before assembling them together and undergoes a Buddhist ceremony to bring luck. The sacred ceremony took place at WatPhrasrirattanaSasadaram or Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok on June 10, 1995.At Phitsanulok, there is a celebration held annually on April 8th, to bring fortune and luck to the people of Phitsanulok. Local residents are also reminded on the importance of having such an important entity protecting themselves and their homes.