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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

Source: the Office of the Prime Minister (1977: 126)

A different photograph (left image) captures a Prachan Rong (performance
competition) between a nang talung (small shadow puppet) troupe (on the left) and a Nora
troupe (on the right). Although this photograph does not directly depict a Nora performance,

it reflects an important cultural context: a competition between two prominent performing art
forms of Southern Thailand. Such competitions took place among different Nora troupes or
between Nora and nang talung troupes, showcasing skills to win recognition and prizes. Winners
were normally determined either by the size of the audience favoring one performance over the
other in a set time or by the amount of money given to performers. The winner often received

additional payment from the opposing troupe.
A fourth photograph (right image) depicts three Nora performers: a nai rong as lead
performer wearing a Serd in the center and two adolescent boys on either side. This image

provides a very clear view of their costumes, including beadwork and Nora ornaments,
such as the sangwan (cross-body ornamental sashes), tupsuang (chestplates), and two bird wings
(decoration on the side body ornament sashes), as well as belts, and sanap phlao, the long
trousers that reach to the ankles. Each performer also wears a hanging front cloth and two
side cloths. The two adolescent boys depicted here have not yet reached the age of Buddhist

ordination and are not fully trained in Nora, so could not have undergone the Nora krob Serd
initiation ceremony to become fully-fledged Nora performers and wear the Serd. They are still
training and learning the traditions and practices of Nora under the training of a senior performer,

often referred to as a Nora Yai. In Nora culture, performers are typically family members or
relatives of the same Nora lineage. In the photo’s background, the musical ensemble can be
seen seated in a temporary structure on the ground, likely built specifically for this performance
to welcome King Chulalongkorn.

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