July 19, 2025 | Lansdowne Park, Ottawa

What a day! TDO was thrilled to be part of the Thai Street Food Festival Ottawa 2025 at Lansdowne Park. While the food and flavours brought people in, we had the chance to share something equally special—the art, tradition, and heart of Thai culture.

Our Thai Cultural Booth

This year, we set up our own booth showcasing authentic Thai cultural treasures. Visitors got up close with traditional ษhon masks in all their intricate detail, explored Thai musical instruments, and could even take home a piece of Thai culture with our Hanuman keychains.

We were joined by Khun Tanta, a musician from our band who travelled all the way from Vancouver for the festival. She shared a heartwarming story about the day: several children were fascinated by the Khim ขิม (Thai hammered dulcimer) and eagerly tried playing it themselves. But the most touching moment came when a Canadian man approached our booth and started talking about the film "Homrong" (โหมโรง The Overture).

We were surprised. While Homrong is a beloved Thai film, it's been years since its release. He told us he'd seen it during a visit to Thailand and was deeply moved by it. Seeing our Ranat ระนาด (Thai xylophone) display brought back those memories and his love for Thailand. It was a beautiful reminder of how traditional instruments can bridge cultures and evoke powerful memories. These are the moments that make what we do so meaningful.

A Special Blessing: Baisri Su Khwan Ceremony

The highlight of our participation was performing the Baisri Su Khwan ceremony (พิธีบายศรีสู่ขวัญ) to honour His Excellency Kanlayana Wiphatphoomiprathet, the Thai Ambassador to Canada, who is preparing for retirement. This was a deeply meaningful moment for TDO and the Thai community.

The Baisri Su Khwan is an auspicious ceremony traditionally practiced in Northern and Northeastern Thailand. According to Thai belief, every person is born with "Khwan," a spiritual essence that watches over us and keeps us healthy and at peace. The Baisri Su Khwan ceremony is performed to strengthen this spiritual energy and bring blessings during important life milestones.

Having the opportunity to perform this sacred ceremony for Ambassador Kanlayana was an honour. It connected us to our roots and allowed us to share this beautiful tradition with both Thai and Canadian communities at the festival.

More Than Just Food

The Thai Street Food Festival Ottawa is known for its incredible food, and rightfully so. But being able to add the cultural dimension reminded everyone how rich and layered the Thai culture is. We're grateful to have been part of this celebration and to share these traditions with our Ottawa community.

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About the Thai Dance Troupe of Ottawa

Founded in 1987, the Thai Dance Troupe of Ottawa (TDO) is Canada's leading Thai performing arts organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Thai classical and folk dance, music, and drama across Canada. For information, contact Kai Whitcomb at kai_whitcomb@yahoo.com