‘Sutin’ Revives ‘Kud Ai Lai’ as a Tourist Landmark – Pushing It to Become a ‘Mini Sports Complex – Muay Thai Training Center’

Maha Sarakham: On May 8, Dr. Sutin Khlangsaeng, MP for the Pheu Thai Party and the 42nd Minister of Defense, a native of Chiang Yuen District, Maha Sarakham Province, along with 'MP Ko' Mr. Rat Khlangsaeng, MP for the Pheu Thai Party in Maha Sarakham Province, presided over the opening ceremony of 'Preserving the Legend of Raising a Home, Weaving the Life of Kut Ai Lai' at Tha Hong Ban (Ban Chot) on the banks of Kut Ai Lai, Tambon Ku Thong, Amphoe Chiang Yuen, Maha Sarakham Province. The event was attended by local executives from all government sectors of Maha Sarakham Province, as well as thousands of local residents from the three related sub-districts: Tambon Ku Thong, Tambon Nong Bua, and Tambon Lao Bua Ban. According to Thai News Agency, the event 'Preserving the Legend of Raising a Home, Weaving the Life of Kut Ai Lai' aims to preserve local culture, revive old traditions, and foster unity within the community. This initiative leverages cultural and traditional elements as soft power for sustainable l ocal development. It showcases the identity of the Kut Thong Subdistrict community through its beliefs, way of life, local wisdom, and valuable arts and culture. The terms 'Sibthanamnan', 'Liang Ban', and 'San Chiwit' hold significant cultural meanings, emphasizing the importance of preserving ancestral stories, performing spiritual rituals, and connecting traditional ways with the new generation. These concepts were central to the event's theme. Following the opening ceremony, Dr. Sutin and Mr. Rat Khlangsaeng led efforts to plant rubber trees and release 50,000 fish into local water sources, promoting environmental restoration and future fishing opportunities for locals. The event also featured sports activities like a 3-sub-district boat race festival, a 7-kilometer marathon boat race, and a motocross race, which saw national champion racer Chetchai Pholdongnok win the Masters 30+ category. Community activities included the Pu Ta Shrine Ceremony, ceremonial dances, a rocket festival, and a performance b y the 'Sao Noi Phet Ban Paeng' folk music troupe, enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the event. Dr. Sutin emphasized the importance of reviving Kut Ai Lai for agriculture and fisheries, envisioning its transformation into a mini sports complex with markets and a Muay Thai training center, thus making it a new tourist landmark in Maha Sarakham Province. He expressed a desire to foster unity and cultural preservation within the community, encouraging local participation in these initiatives for improved quality of life. Mr. Rat Khlangsaeng highlighted plans to integrate Kut Ai Lai into the tourism program of Maha Sarakham Province, aiming to boost tourism and enhance the living standards of the local populace.