Roles of Ritual and Beliefs in Conserving Mueang Fai Irrigation System in Northern Thailand

Abstract

From the study on Lanna wisdom of irrigation ditches and weirs, it is discovered, concerning the ancient weirs that the locals have used for agricultural purposes since the past have been abandoned because water use has been changed from the use for agriculture to the use for the production of pipe water. The need for water increases every year. The abandonment of weirs and water sources in communities causes the problems related to water conflicts. In dry seasons, the amount of water does not meet the need for water for agricultural works and consumption. On the contrary, during a rainy season, wild water floods over agricultural fields, households and natural tourist attractions such as Mae Sa waterfall which has to be temporarily closed. In this study and research project, Mueang Fai (weirs and irrigation ditches) wisdom is applied to the arrangement of activities to encourage members of related communities to treasure their water sources through the activities of forestation(to grow trees in deforested areas), and to build small weirs in branch streams that run to the main river. Small weirs on slopes of a mountain help retain water during a dry season and slowdown water flow when there is a heavy rain. The powers of youths and outsiders are important forces that urge communities to be aware of the solutions to water crises and to have common awareness in the weir－based traditions that will be factors that make people rehabilitate water sources again through the rites to worship the guardian spirits of water and to bless water.