June

Phi Ta Khon or Ghost festival

Phi Ta Khon is type of masked procession celebrated on the first day of a three-day Buddhist merit-making holiday known in Thai as “ Bun Pai Wate “.The annual festival takes place in May, June or July in Dan Sai District in the northeastern province of Loel. The exact date is to be selected by the town’s spirit which can communincate only through a medium.

The festival has its origin in a traditional Buddhist tale. It tells of when Prince Vessandorn, Lord Buddha’s last great incarnation before attaining enlightenment, returned to his city. The welcoming procession was so delightful that the spirits wanted to join the fun.

Phi Ta khon is celebrated largely by young men who wear huge masks made from carved coconut-tree trunks, topped with wicker work and sticky-rice steamers and dress as ghosts to parade a sacred Buddha image. They tease villagers from the Man River to Wat Phon Chai on the first day. The procession is marked by a lot of music and dancing. Then they fire off the usual bamboo rockets to signal the end of the procession. Contests for the best masks, costumes and dancers are also held.

On the second day, the villagers gather at Wat Ponchai to listen to the messages of the thirteen sermons of Prince Vessandorn recited by the local monks. They release offerings to Phi Ta Khon, which are believed to be ghost, into the Man River. Finally, they put away their ghost masks and costumes which are then kept for another year, and return to work in their paddy fields.

It is said that the reason for this festival is an attempt to evoke the annual rains and to bless crops.

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