The Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)

The Phi Ta Khon(Ghost Festival)

Phi Ta Khon is a type of masked procession celebrated on the first day of a three-day Buddhist merit-making holiday known in Thai as “Boon Pra Wate”. The annual festival takes place in *May, June or July at a small town of Dan Sai in the northeastern province of Loei.
Participants of the festival dress up like ghosts and monsters wearing huge masks made from carved coconut-tree trunks, topped with a wicker-work sticky-rice steamer. The procession is marked by a lot of music and dancing.
The precise origin of the Phi Ta khon is unclear. However, it can be traced back to a traditional Buddhist folklore. In the Buddha’s next to last life, he was the beloved Prince Vessandorn. The prince was said to go on a long trip for such a long time that his subjects forgot him and even thought that he was already dead. When he suddenly returned, his people were over-joyed. They welcomed him back with a celebration so loud that it even awoke the dead who then joined in all the fun.
From that time onward the faithful came to commemorate the event with ceremonies, celebrations and the donning of ghostly spirit masks. The reasons behind all the events is probably due to the fact that it was held to evoke the annual rains from the heavens by farmers and to bless crops.

On the second day, the villagers dance their way to the temple and fire off the usual bamboo rockets to signal the end of the procession. The festival organisers also hold contests for the best masks, costumes and dancers, and brass plaques are awarded to the winners in each age group. The most popular is the dancing contest.
Then comes the last day of the event, the villagers then gather at the local temple, Wat Ponchai, to listen to the message of the thirteen sermons of the Lord Buddha recited by the local monks.
Then it is time for the revellers to put away their ghostly masks and costumes for another year. From now on, they must again return to the paddy fields to eke out their living through rice farming as their forefathers did.

Illuminated Boat Procession

Illuminated Boat Procession

The festival of the Illuminated Boat Procession or “Lai Reua Fai” in Thai and “Lai Heua Fai” in local dialect is an ancient tradition of northeastern people. In the past, the festival was held in several provinces in this region, later only some provinces still preserve this tradition especially Nakhon Phanom Province where the annual event draws visitors from different directions.
Originally, the boats were made of banana logs or bamboo but modern versions can be made of wood or synthetic materials. A boat’s length was about 8 to 10 meters. Inside the boat, there were sweets, steamed-sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves (Khao Tom Mud) and other offerings while the outside of the boat was decorated with flowers, joss-sticks, candles and lamps. At night the fire boats were launched on the Mekong River and illuminated in a spectacular display.
The festival of the Illuminated Boat Procession takes place at the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat or Ork Phansa (usually some time during October). On this occasion, residents of several villages will jointly observe Ork Phansa by launching intricatedly decorated little boats on the Mekong River when the night falls. Boat racing and a wax castle procession are also included in the festival. The event was said to have carried down from several generations as a means to worship Lord Buddha who, according to Buddhist legend, returned to earth after completing his – month mission in heaven.
Meanwhile, the ceremony of launching fire boats will usually be performed in the evening before the sunset. Buddhist monks will be invited to chant, give precepts and deliver a sermon. However, the participants must bring joss-sticks and candles to take part in a religious rite. As soon as the sun’s rays disappear, the boats will be lit and launched on the Mekong River to worship Lord Buddha.
At this time, in the middle of the Mekong River, lights in various shapes from the floating boats can be seen from a long distance and this is considered as a significant symbol to uphold Buddhism. The event brings about happiness to all Buddhists while foreign visitors will enjoy watching a marvelous illuminated display.