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Event held to celebrate Thai culture in Jersey

Chris Craddock
News imageBBC Dararat is wearing an ornate gold headdress and a white embroidered traditional outfit poses indoors while holding a small Thai flag. Round tables, attendees, and framed paintings are visible in the softly blurred background of a reception hall.BBC
Dararat Lorimer hopes to organise more community events to share Thai culture in Jersey

An event thought to be the first of its kind has been held in Jersey to celebrate Thai culture in the island.

Dozens of people came together at the Town Hall in St Helier on Friday to enjoy Thai food and learn more about the community's traditions.

Organisers arranged for Buddhist monks from the UK to be part of the event where they spoke about the history of Thailand and helped lead those in attendance in a traditional chant.

Community representative Dararat Lorimer said it was the first time Thai and Jersey communities and celebrated together and the event aimed to "bring future generations together".

News imageFour Buddhist monks in orange robes take part in a prayer ceremony inside a formal hall. One monk stands at a lectern with a microphone while three others sit with hands pressed together in prayer. A framed portrait on an easel stands behind them, with dark wood panelling, large windows, and framed artwork visible in the background.
Buddhist monks were part of the celebrations at the town hall

The 2021 Jersey Census showed there were 267 people living in the island who were born in Thailand, a rise of 52 since 2011.

Lorimer said: "Everyone knows, we talk about the past, we talk about the present and now we should think about the future."

"I plan [on] teaching Thai, teaching Thai cooking and teaching Thai boxing going forward as well," she added.

"We need to celebrate more of course to help make sure we continue to mix all together."

News imageKarolina is wearing a pink silk traditional outfit stands in a function room with round tables and framed artwork on the walls. The portrait-style photograph is taken indoors with a softly blurred background showing other attendees and event furnishings.
Karolina Kierys said it is important for different community groups to celebrate their cultures in Jersey

Karolina Kierys is originally from Poland and lives next door to Lorimer and helped organise the event.

She said: "I think it's a lot of Thai people here in Jersey, but they don't have places like a Thai school or other things where Thai people can celebrate their culture."

Kierys added: "I'm sure that Dara will have plans for more events like this in the future.

"We've got the Polish Saturday School, so our children know our traditions, culture, language, and Thai people should have something similar."

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