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Phi Ta Khon : Thailand's Halloween |
 Although it's hard to believe there's a spirit, it's better not to talk about it, right? By the way, there is a ghost's legend from the Northeast of Thailand to make you change your mind.
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Although it's hard to believe there's a spirit, it's better not to talk about it, right? By the way, there is a ghost's legend from the Northeast of Thailand to make you change your mind.
We won't be talking about monster house, ruin castle or temple. It's a lively festival known as “Phi Ta Khon” or “Thailand's Halloween”. 
The Phi Ta Khon festival is a part of a grand merit-making festival known as the “Boon Luang” or “Bun Pha Ves” . It is an annual festival which is celebrated on the arrival of the 6th or 7th lunar month (check with the TAT tel. 1672 for more details). Phi Ta Khon is also unique to the Dan Sai district in Loei Province and reflects the local Isan belief in ghosts and spirits.
According to legend, Phi Ta Khon can be found in the tale of Lord Buddha's last great incarnation before attaining enlightenment. It is said that when Prince Vessandorn, the Buddha's penultimate incarnation, returned to his city, it was such a joyous occasion that the village spirits came forth to join the welcoming parade . In Thai , we called this as “Phi Tam Khon” (ghosts follow people) or “Phi Ta Khon” (ghosts with human eyes) . Due to be ghosts, they also teased villagers ,but finally got back and took all misfortune, suffering and illness away.
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Phi Ta Khon is a local festival to Dan Sai District in Loei Province , about 450 km north of Bangkok. With the different style in presentation of ghost story makes the unknown tradition become the famous festival among tourists from all over the world.
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There are two types of "spirits" featured in the Phi Ta Khon procession namely the "Phi Ta Khon Yai" ( the supreme Phi Ta Khon), and the "Phi Ta Khon Lek" (the ones that are commonly found) .
The making of the Phi Ta Khon Yai involves the performance of a sacred ritual to seek the blessings of the supreme powers before work on the Phi Ta Khon Yai masks can be initiated. It is also a task reserved exclusively for the descendants of families in which the tradition of making Phi Ta Khon masks has been practised for several generations. The Phi Ta Khon Yai is made of bamboo and is dressed in either in male or female attire.
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Phi Ta Khon Lek is an entertainment for all such as children, young teenagers, women or men . However, it is not popular to women.
Participants of the festival dress up as ghosts and monsters wearing long trailling costumes made from colourful strips of cloth sewn together . In addition, they are also wearing the hideous-looking huge masks made from carved coconut-tree trunks and topped with a colourful wicker-work sticky-rice steamer. The Procession is marked by a lot of music and dancing.
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For this year, the festival is lasting 3 days from 23 June to 25 June and will take place at Phonchai Temple in Dan Sai District. The following activities are part of the three-day long Phi Ta Khon celebrations:
Sources : http://www.oceansmile.com
http://www.tat.or.th
http://www.ku.ac.th
http://www.ethailand.com
http://www.pbase.com
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PHI TA KHON FESTIVAL
Dansai district, Loei province
23-25 June 2007
Saturday 23 June 2007
( Phra Upakud Invocation and Opening Ceremony )
Time
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| 03.00 am. |
–Invocation of Pra Upakud: Procession from Phon-Chai Temple to Mun River and back. |
| 07.00 am. |
- Food Offerings to Monks at Phon-Chai Temple. |
| 08.30 am. |
– Bai Sii (Summoning of Spirits) Ceremony at Jao Por Guan’s House. After Bai Sii,procession led by Jao Por Guan and Jao-Mae Nang Tiam to Phon-Chai Temple . |
| 09.30 am. |
– Gathering for Phi Ta Khon Procession and Competitions among groups marching in the procession in front of Dan Sai District Office . |
| 10.00 am. |
- Opening Ceremony in front of Dan Sai District Office . |
| 02.00 pm. |
– Children’s Dance Competition at Dan Sai District Office, 1st Round |
| 08.30 pm. |
– Thai Folk Singing (Mah Lum) at Chum-Chon Ban Dan Sai School
** Also on Friday, June 22 at 5:00 p.m.. |
| Sunday 24 June 2007
( Special Events and the Grand Phi Ta Khon Parade )
Time |
| 09.00 am. |
- Mask making demonstration at Dan Sai Folk Museum. |
| 09.30 am. |
- Children’s Dance Competition at Dan Sai District Office Final Round . |
| 11.00 am. |
– Parachute jump by firefighters from Phitsanulok (tentative plan) . |
| 01.00 pm. |
– Grand parade from Dan Sai Municipality to Pon Chai Temple
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| 03.00 pm. |
– Pra Wate Procession led by Jao Por Guan and Jao-Mae Nang Tiam to Phon-
Chai Temple for circling the temple 3 times To make merit followed by the firing of the
bamboo rockets.
- Procession begins at the intersection of Keaw Asa Road and the Loei-Dan Sai Road
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| 07.00 pm. |
– Buddhist Sermons at Pon-Chai Temple by monks . |
| Monday 25 June 2007
( Buddhist Sermons and Ceremony to Rid Dan Sai of Bad Luck – No Phi Ta Khon Dancing )
Time |
| 04.00 am. |
-13 consecutive Buddhist sermons at Phon-Chai Temple . |
| 07.00 am. |
- Food Offerings to Monks at Phon-Chai Temple. |
| 08.00 am. |
.- Ceremony to be rid of bad luck at Phon-Chai Temple . |
| 10.00 am. |
– Khan Lon procession from Jao Por Guan’s house to the morning and evening markets and ending at Phon-Chai Temple for the town purifying ceremony . |
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In addition, all visitors are also satisfied with clean food -good taste foo stalls that will be hold on 23 June – 24 June 2007 , 5.00 P.M. – 10.00 P.M.(Located behind Evening Market
More than 30 restaurants participating Papaya salad “ som tum ” competition)
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U&K |
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