Prachuap Khiri Khan Town Municipality has invited residents and visitors to take part in the annual Khao Chong Krajok ceremony, a traditional religious event held to mark the New Year and seek blessings for the year ahead.
The ceremony centres on a long-standing Buddhist ritual in which a yellow cloth is carried in procession up Khao Chong Krajok and used to robe the sacred relics and pagoda at the summit. The event is held to welcome the New Year 2026 and is open to members of the public, including those with a strong interest in faith and local traditions.
Dates and activities for the Khao Chong Krajok ceremony
As part of the lead-up to the main procession, the municipality has organised a series of activities at the Prachuap Khiri Khan City Pillar Shrine.
From 17 to 26 December 2025, members of the public are invited to sign their wishes and prayers on the ceremonial yellow cloth during a daily blessing-signing activity held at the shrine. The cloth will later be used in the New Year procession.
The main ceremony will take place on the morning of 1 January 2026, when participants will join the procession to carry the yellow cloth up Khao Chong Krajok via the official access route. The climb involves 396 steps leading to the hilltop, where the relics will be robed in a traditional ritual.
Additional New Year religious activities are also planned. On the evening of 31 December 2025, a New Year prayer-chanting ceremony will be held at the City Pillar Shrine. This will be followed on the morning of 1 January by an alms-giving ceremony, with participants offering dry food to monks in front of the shrine.
Those who complete the climb on New Year’s Day will also be able to take part in a commemorative activity linked to the slogan “Climbing Chong Krajok, 396 steps,” with certificates issued to participants.
The Khao Chong Krajok ceremony is held annually and is well known among local residents. In previous years, citizens and visitors have joined together to sign a large yellow cloth before carrying it up the hill in a collective act of faith. At the summit, the cloth is draped over the golden pagoda, a recognised symbol of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
Buddhists traditionally climb the hill during the event to pay respect to Phra Buddha Mongkol Kiri Khan, a revered Buddha image located at the peak. The municipality said the ceremony continues to play an important role in preserving local traditions while providing an opportunity for the community to welcome the New Year together.
