1. Aideé Corral Mónica Ruiz
Phi Ta Khon
“The Ghost Festival”
Aideé Corral
Mónica Ruiz

2. What does it means?
Where does it take place?
What is it about?

3. It is held in Dan Sai, a north central region of Thailand bordering on Laos. The events take place over three days between march and july and the actual date is chosen by the town’s mystics according to the lunar calendar.
Villagers believe that playing with the symbolic sexual organs causes sufficient rain to fall in the rainy season. Some people also believe that this also helps to expel bad spirits.

4. Why they do it?
The origins of the festival are traditionally ascribed to a story of the Vessantara Jataka in which the 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 wild they woke the dead.

5. First day
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 masks made of rice husks or coconut leaves with hats made from rice steamers, plus patchwork clothing.They also wear bells and wave wooden phalluses.

6. Second day
The second day of the festival incorporates elements of the Rocket Festival, plus costume and dance contests and more parades
there's lots of alcohol consumed so the whole thing turns into a pretty wild party by late-afternoon on the first and second days

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

8. The homecoming was so joyous and important that even the spirits of the dead decided to attend. It is this coming together of the dead and living that is commemorated by Phi Ta Khon – the aim is to recreate that colorful day when Prince Vessandara was welcomed back to his home city.

9. References: http://travel. cnn