Overview
During the ghost festival, the quiet farming village of Dan Sai is transformed by colourful, masked spirits who dance and parade through the streets. The three-day Thai festival is a re-enactment of a Buddhist story.
Description
In this tale, Lord Buddha was living his final incarnation before enlightenment as a prince who had been banished from his kingdom. After a long exile, he returned to such a joyous homecoming that it woke the dead, who joined the celebrations.
Villagers dress in patchwork costumes and long-nosed, painted masks made from rice husks. They wear bells around their waists to announce the presence of spirits and wave swords and phallic charms as they parade through the streets. On the second day, rockets filled with good luck tokens are fired to pray for rain and there are traditional dancing and an award for the best-dressed ghost. On the third day, people gather to listen to monks recite thirteen sermons about Lord Buddha.