Thao Thep Krasatri Festival Phuket

The largest island in Thailand, the most populous and the most popular one- Phuket is a major watershed in the tourism industry of Thailand and festivals and events in Phuket are more than you can even think of. In this cosmopolitan island there are festivals for every faith, every religion every race, and every kind of tourist for that matter. The Thao Thep Krasatri-Tao Sri Sunton Festival Phuket is celebrated every year on the13th of March in memory of the two ladies who led the defense of the island against the Burmese in 1785.

It all began when a passing sea captain, Francis Light, sent word to Phuket that the Burmese were en route to attack. Under the leadership of Kunying Jan, Thao Thep Krasattri, wife of Phuket's deceased governor, and her sister Mook, Thao Si Sunthon, forces in Phuket were assembled. Allegedly, there was a shortage of men and so Thao ordered 500 women to dress up as soldiers with coconut palms daubed in soot to look like weapons. This stroke of intelligence seemed to delay a full-on Burmese attack. However, after a month's siege the Burmese were forced to move back on 13 March 1785. Kunying Jan and her sister Sunton, were credited with the successful defense.