- Title: Venerating the past - traditional costume fever grips Thailand
- Date: 11th April 2018
- Summary: AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND (RECENT - APRIL 6, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING INTO CHAIWATTHANARAM TEMPLE WOMEN DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL COSTUMES TAKING PICTURES AT THE TEMPLE PEOPLE IN TRADITIONAL COSTUMES WALKING INSIDE TEMPLE VARIOUS OF FAMILY IN TRADITIONAL COSTUMES POSING FOR PHOTOS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE POSING FOR PHOTOS PEOPLE WALKING PAST RUINS AND STATUES BUDDHA STATUES (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) TEMPLE VISITOR FROM BANGKOK, SOMBOON THAMANON, 38, SAYING: "I love Thailand even more. I love the Thai culture and (want it) to be a much more beautiful country than it already is." PEOPLE TAKING GROUP PHOTO WITH TEMPLE IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF WOMAN POSING FOR PHOTOS COUPLE WALKING AND POSING FOR PHOTOS VARIOUS OF VISITOR CHANTIRA NIAMSA-ARD (CENTER) POSING FOR PHOT WITH FRIENDS (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) TEMPLE VISITOR FROM BANGKOK, CHANTIRA NIAMSA-ARD, 40, SAYING: "Yes, I love it (being Thai). It feels great to see many people wearing Thai traditional costumes, and preserving the Thai culture. Before, people didn't want to put it on but now they're wearing it. It's great and it's beautiful." THAI COSTUME RENTAL STALL ON STREET ACROSS TEMPLE VENDOR DRAPING CLOTH ON MANNEQUIN PEOPLE STANDING AND LOOKING AT COSTUMES VARIOUS OF CHUTIMA DRESSING UP WOMAN COUPLE DRESSED IN THAI TRADITIONAL COSTUMES AT COSTUME STALL (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI COSTUME STALL VENDOR IN AYUTTHAYA, CHUTIMA WONGCHIANGKWANG, 55, SAYING: "Business has been booming since the winter fair held by our King (Vajiralongkorn) and then this (Love Destiny) soap opera fueled the (Thai costume) fever even more, improving the business a lot." (MUTE) AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND (RECENT - APRIL 6, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TIME-LAPSE OF PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES INSIDE TEMPLE BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - APRIL 3, 2018) (REUTERS) THAI PRIME MINISTER PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA WALKING INSIDE GOVERNMENT HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI PRIME MINISTER PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA, SAYING: "This (soap opera) is about showcasing the Thai culture and traditions and how people used to dress in those days. It has created interest among the Thai public and they like it."
- Embargoed: 25th April 2018 09:13
- Keywords: Thailand Thai costumes sentimental traditional Thai fever
- Location: BANGKOK, AYUTTHAYA / UNKNOWN LOCATIONS, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, AYUTTHAYA / UNKNOWN LOCATIONS, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0018AZJ6TH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: History fever is gripping Thailand as locals grow a fondness for traditional costumes, a phenomenon fuelled by a popular television soap opera.
"Love Destiny", a soap opera set during the 1656 to 1688 reign of King Narai the Great, has taken Thailand by storm.
Many Thais are visiting the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, 80 km (50 miles) north of Bangkok, where scenes from "Love Destiny" take place. Many pose for "selfies" dressed in traditional garb against the backdrop of the ruins at the historic Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple, attributing their love for the "Thai culture" to the soap opera.
Costume rental vendor Chutima Wongchiangkwang, 55, says her business has been booming for the past couple of months. Chutima receives an average of about 80 customers every day, renting out traditional Thai outfits at a rate of 200 baht (US$6.40) each. There are about 20 other costume rental shops around the temple.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha met with cast members of "Love Destiny" last week at Government House and hailed the series as an example of the government's long-standing policy of promoting 'Thai-ness'.
"It's a phenomenon that has gone beyond our expectations," said Arunosha Bhanupan, producer of the TV series. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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