Phi Ta Khon: Difference between revisions

| caption1 = Ghosts holding palad khik (penis amulet)

'''Phi Ta Khon''' ({{lang-th|ผีตาโขน}}; phǐi taa khǒn; {{IPA-th|pʰǐː taː kʰǒn|}}), sometimes known as '''Ghost Festival''',is the most common name foragroup of [[festival]]s held in Dan Sai, [[Loei province]], [[Isan]], [[Thailand]]. The events take place over three days some time between March and July, the dates being selected annually by the town’s [[Mediumship|medium]]s.

Phi Ta Khon has the identity of colorful masks, and it is one of the most vibrant in Thailand.  Phi Ta Khon or Ghost Festival comes from legal rules for the ghosts, and this festival reaches similarity with Halloween in the West. Phi Ta Khon festival has uniqueness by masks, and it has a difference of type. The original is shrouded in ambiguity and related to tribal Thai spirit cults (lonely planet Thailand, page 525, China Williams). Phi Ta Khon is one of the most unique and colorful festivals in Thailand. It is held during in the sixth or seventh lunar month (“Phi Ta Khon Festival”, by Tour With Thai, [http://www.tourwiththai.com/Phi%20Ta%20Khon%20Festival.html http://www.tourwiththai.com.html]). There are two types of Phi Ta Khon is Phi Ta Khon Yai (large head) and Phi Ta Khon Lek (small head). The most playful amusement is Phi Ta Khon Lek and Phi Ta Khon Yai made from bamboo. It is twice as larger as life-size (“Phi Ta Khon Festival”, by babylove, ”http://loeiculture.blogspot.com/2011/02/phi-ta-khon-festival.html<nowiki/>”). Phi Ta Khon Lek was the rather extreme, so the women is participate less. In each year, only made two of the Phi Ta Khon Yai is one for male and one for female. The people are not allowed to do, and who are responsible for made Phi Ta Khon Yai is only a group. If they are approved to made a Phi Ta Khon Yai every year, or at least for three consecutive years. For playing Phi Ta Khon festival, the people are wear dress like a ghost and demon mask and made of dried sticky rice husk. Over the years, many people are intricate in design of masks and colorful. In former times, the people threw the mask into the river at the end of festival, but the people have to reused the masks as decoration at the present (Thai Guru, 16/Feb/2014, by Thai Guru).

Many people remodel for improving to the current mask by reusing the masks instead of throwing down to the river for reducing the environmental problem. In each year, tourists come to associate and give attention to this festival.

The whole event is called ''Bun Luang'', part of a Buddhist merit-making holiday also known as ''Bun Phawet''.

The first day is the Ghost Festival itself, also called ''Wan Ruam'' (assembly day). The town’s residents invite protection from ''Phra U-pakut'', the spirit of the [[Mun river]]. They then hold a series of games and take part in a procession wearing [[mask]]s made of [[rice]] husks or [[coconut]] leaves with hats made from rice steamers, plus [[patchwork]] clothing.<ref>[http://www.tribaltrappings.com/AO_1A.html Phi Ta Khon Masks]</ref> They also wear [[bell (instrument)|bell]]s and wave wooden [[phallus]]es.

The origins of this part of the festival are traditionally ascribed to a story of the [[Vessantara Jataka]] in which the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] in one of his past lives as a prince made a long journey and was presumed dead. The celebrations on his return were so raucous as to wake the dead. <ref>[http://www.thailand.com/travel/festival/festivals_phitakhon.htm Phi Ta Khon Festival - Thailand Tourism]</ref>

On the third and final day, the villagers listen to sermons from Buddhist monks.

*[[Vessantara Jataka]]

<references group="Thai Guru, 16/Feb/2014, by Thai Guru" />

* [http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/special_event/ghost/index.html The Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival - Assumption University]

* [http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/thai_article/2105_phi_ta_khon/phi_ta_khon.html Phi Ta Khon - Thai Ways Magazine]

[[Category:Festivals in Thailand]]

[[Category:Buddhist festivals]]

[[Category:Movable March observances]]

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[[Category:Movable May observances]]

[[Category:Movable June observances]]

[[Category:Movable July observances]]