The Giant Swing | Sao Chingcha | Religious Structure | Bangkok

The Giant Swing | Sao Chingcha | Religious Structure | Bangkok

The Giant Swing was built on April 8, 1784 from the command of King Rama I, advised by Naliwan Brahmin from Sukhothai City called Phra Khru Sittichai (Kratai). It was the place to hold Triyampawai Swing Ceremony.

The Brahmin’s new year ceremony to welcome Shiva who was said to visit the earth for 10 days during December and January. The Giant Swing is made of round teak trunk having 2.15 meters height and about 10.5 meters of diameter.

The swing ceremony had been continuously held for several decades until 1933 in the reign of King Rama VII that it was abrogated from the royal ceremonies, because of the country’s unstable economic situation. The Giant Swing however has already been registered by the fine arts department as a national monument.