If you are in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima or Korat in March to April, you will be able to catch a spectacular scene of a mass traditional Thai dance performance!
Every year, during 23 March to 3 April, there will be events all around the province to remind the locals of Khun Yamo's bravery. They will sing Korat songs and other traditional folk music to celebrate, and lots of people from all over the country will visit the monument, pay homage and ask for blessings. One such event would be a mass traditional thai dance in tribute of her, which is a great spectable!
Khun Yamo (or grandmother Mo) as all the locals reffered to her as, her original name as Khun Ying Mo. She was the wife of the provincial governor in 1827. At the time when her husband was away on official business, the Laos seized the opportunity and invaded and captured the city.
While being led back to Laos as war captives, Khun Yamo instilled morale in the hearts of her peole traveling together with her. She came up with constant ways to delay the journey and gain sympathy of the Laos soldiers to give her many tools which she gathered and used as weapons later. For examples, such as claiming that captives were sick or that carts had broken and needed repair. She would asked her captors for axes to repair ‘ broken ’ carts, or to cut for firewood, etc. Khun Yamo ordered that wood sticks be gathered and sharpened with axes, and that hoes be used as well in place of weapons (when the time arrived). All this time while holding secret discussions with her people to stage a revolt at the right moment.
On the planned day, upon reaching Thungsamrit, Khun Yamo, asked her captors to allow her people to rest so that their sore muscles could recover from the long journey, and the Lao commanders allowed this. After setting up camp at Thunsamrit, Phrayahrom, Khun Yamo commanded a group of young women to seduce and lure the Lao soldiers outside the camp making them drunk while her cooks remained in camp. At this time, male cooks separated into groups with a number of weapons. After some time passed, all those who had prepared rushed together at the same time, shouting and cheering, chopping at the Lao soldiers and scattering them in confusion. The Lao soldiers had no idea of the impending attack, fell and died or scattered away.
Returning her people and her city back to Thailand, His Majesty the King later conferred her the title of Thao Suranaree. Upon her passing on, a monument was built in her honour at the city center.
I am blessed to be in the town of Sikhio in Korat when they were commemorating her. Indeed an awesome heroine worthy of such great respect and spectacle in her honour!
