Celebration of the 100 Years of Narathiwat

Narathiwat Deputy Governor Supanat Sirantawineti said that all groups of local people would join hands in organizing various activities to mark this special occasion.

Among the activities are public services and the organizing of a “Big Cleaning Day” once a month. The campaign to keep the city clean will be included in the province’s agenda. Local residents will be encouraged to plant 100,000 allamanda trees to celebrate this occasion, as well. Allamanda, known in Thai as Ban Buri, is regarded as the provincial flower of Narathiwat.

Originally, Narathiwat was a village named “Bang Nara.” During the reign of King Rama I of the Rattanakosin period, this village became a district under the administration of Sai Buri city in Pattani. Later, it was transferred to be under Ra-ngae city, also in Pattani. In 1906, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) upgraded Bang Nara district into a city.

During the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), the King visited southern cities, and on 10 June 1915, he granted a new name for Bang Nara: “Narathiwat,” meaning “great living place of the people.” In 1933, when Thailand introduced major changes in its regional administration, Narathiwat city was changed to Narathiwat province. The year 2015 marks the 100 years of the present name of Narathiwat granted by King Vajiravudh.

There are about 800,000 people in Narathiwat (as of 31 December 2011), 82 percent of whom are Muslim, 17 percent are Buddhist, and one percent other religions. Most local people are engaged in rubber planting, fruit farming, rice cultivation, fishing, and trade. The province produces mainly natural rubber, rice, oil palm, and fruit, especially longkong, rambutan, durian, and mangosteen. Longkong is the most famous fruit from the province and a major cash crop.

Narathiwat fishermen are famous for their expertise in building this kind of boat. Although many fishermen have replaced the Ko Lae’s sails with engines, the taste for exquisitely decorative patterns painted on the boats continues to prevail.

Narathiwat shares a border with Kelantan in Malaysia. Its well-known border town is Sungai Kolok, which welcomes a great number of Malaysian and Singaporean visitors coming for trade and tourism each year.

This peaceful province boasts beautiful scenery with expansive mountainous areas and fertile forests. Its people have a vision to develop it as one of the country’s most livable provinces, moving toward lasting peace and economic prosperity.