This study aims at investigating the elements and stages of therituals concerning ~uhua suang~u (raceboats) of Muang Ubon, and atexamining the beliefs in the tradition and rituals in the use of ~uhuasuang~u relating to the way of life of the Muang Ubon people. Theinvestigation was conducted by studying from documentary data and fielddata in these three areas: Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Khemarat, and Amphoe PhibunMangsahan in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Data were collected throughobservations and interviews, and the study results were presented in adescriptive analysis form. The study results are as follows: The ~usuang hua~u (boatrace) of Muang Ubon is one of the activitiesin the festival at the end of the Buddhist Lent, held for entertainmentsand unity of the community, for promotion and conservation of thissignificant tradition because the villagers believe that each ~uhua suang~u(raceboat) has a sacred thing residing inside it. It is then regarded as ahighly sacred and valuable thing for the locality. Therefore, ~uhua suang~umaking and ~uhua suang~u use have relationships with rituals and beliefs atevery stage, beginning from selecting wood, cutting wood, tugging wood,carving boat, making kell, making oars, naming boat, launching, up tomaintaining boat. When the elements and stages of using ~uhua suang~u ofMuang Ubon are considered, it is found that there are persons involving therituals that include: Baddhist monks, a supposed Brahmin, community leadersor senior persons, boat-makers, and all the villagers in the community whocooperate. For the place of ritual performance, the rituals are performedin the ~uwat~u (monastery). The materials and utensils in the ritualperformance include offerings to the spirit and sacrifices to the spirit.The stages of the ritual follow the ancient stages of performancecontinually, i.e. the rituals of opening the forest, opening the water,boat soul calling, and giving offerings to the boat's Mae Ya Nang (thespirit of the boat). Furthermore, it is also found that the ~usuang hua~uof Muang Ubon has been able to exist successively because the group ofpeople still believe in the tradition and rituals concerning ~usuang hua~uand still there are earnest actions in order to adhere to their ancestors'ideal. Also, the people have attachments to the Mun River, so these causethe people of Muang Ubon to hold the competition of ~uhua suang~u up to thepresent.