Nene Royal Statue Steals Show at Samut Prakan Lotus Festival
The 2026 Rap Bua Festival at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai in Samut Prakan featured a statue of Thai singer Nene Royal, celebrated as an America's Got Talent 2026 winner. The festival included a land procession of a revered Buddha replica and will culminate with a boat parade on October 25 where locals toss lotus flowers along the canal.
At 09:09 on October 23, 2026, Phra Thep Samut Wachirayan, the Samut Prakan Provincial Ecclesiastical Chief, and the abbot of Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai presided over a gold-leaf ceremony for a replica of Luang Pho To before placing it on an ornately decorated Busabok carriage. The image was then paraded through main streets and around Samut Prakan, allowing thousands of residents to pay respects.
The atmosphere was lively with lion dancers, floats, and crowds singing and dancing along the route. A major highlight was the statue of Thai artist "Nene Royal" (Ratthikan Amloy) displayed in front of the temple's ubosot. The statue, dressed in a long red gown with a guitar slung across her body and making a rock-on hand sign, celebrates her reported victory on the global stage of America's Got Talent 2026. It stands beside a sign proclaiming the Rap Bua Festival as "One of a Kind in the World," surrounded by colorful flower arches.
The modern sculpture blends interestingly with local tradition, reflecting pride in Thai success on the world stage alongside the preservation of Samut Prakan's iconic Rap Bua Festival. The festival's key event occurs on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when the Luang Pho To replica will be transported by boat along Khlong Samrong starting from Bang Phli District, allowing residents on both banks to toss lotus flowers in a tradition that reflects the faith of the Bang Phli community and defines the province's famous festival.
