Attendees at a New Year event Chiang Mai pub told to get COVID-19 tests

13 Sept 15:17 Key points summarised by AI

Customers who attended New Year events at Warmup Café in Chiang Mai are urged to get COVID-19 tests after an infected individual was confirmed.
The infected person, a 25-year-old food vendor, visited the pub on December 31st and January 1st and also traveled to Lampang and Phrae provinces.
Warmup Café faced significant social media criticism for overcrowding and lack of mask-wearing, leading to its immediate closure and the postponement of the Winter Festival.
Health officials in Chiang Mai and Phrae are actively tracing and isolating close contacts of the infected woman for screening.

The Buddha Comes Home

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Chong Para is a vibrant annual festival of the Shan (Tai Yai) people in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, celebrating the Buddha's return from Tavatimsa heaven after Buddhist Lent.
The festival's centerpiece involves families constructing intricate miniature palaces, also called Chong Para, from bamboo, paper, and lights, placed outside homes and temples as offerings.
For three days and nights, the quiet mountain town comes alive with folk music, traditional dances like the Shan bird dance, religious ceremonies, and community gatherings, showcasing deep-rooted Shan culture.
Beyond the celebrations, Chong Para reinforces family bonds, preserves traditional crafts, and offers visitors an authentic immersion into the unique cultural heritage of Mae Hong Son.