Yasothon has erected a five-story Toad Museum to be its own weird and wonderful landmark to educate people about the folklore behind its famous rocket festival.
Photos of the unfinished museum have been spread online, with many surmising the giant toad will eclipse the popularity of Singapore’s Merlion. Don’t laugh, this toad building comes equipped with a 4D cinema where visitors can learn all about the toad prince who basically started Yasothon’s famous rocket fest.
READ: WHISKEY, WEIRD AND SUNSTROKE AT THE YASOTHON ROCKET FESTIVAL
The Toad Museum presents the story of Praya Kankak, the toad prince from a local folktale who saves humanity from flooding by defeating the God of Rain in battle, Sakhon Chanapaitoon, former director of the National Science Museum, said last year.
“The toad is an ugly animal, so people in the past wrote a folktale about toads so people wouldn’t kill them,” he explained.
After winning the battle, Praya Kankak made an agreement with God of Rain that humans will tell him when they are ready for rain by firing a rocket into the sky.
“We’ll showcase 32 species of toad in Thailand and the ‘good things’ from Yasothorn like rice and watermelon.”
Sounds like a good mix for a museum.
The opening date has not been announced, but like you, we’re all very excited.
Photos: Coconuts Media
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