NThe food
used in the ceremony is distributed to local villagers, known as the
Ching Pret ceremony.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Southern Thais celebrated a local version of their
biggest event of the year, as they gathered in Pattaya for the Tenth
Lunar Month Festival.
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Rewat Phonlookin, Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit and
Somsin Thipmanee, president of Chonburi Southern People Association
opened the cultural-preservation event Oct. 15 at Bunyakanchanaram
Temple.
The festival was first held in 1923 in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The ceremony
has since become an annual event. Besides traditional activities the
three days and nights of the festival includes trade fairs and
performances. The celebration was originally the idea of Thais who
wanted to pay respects and offer merit to their ancestors. As a result,
this practice became the most important and biggest event in Nakhon Si
Thammarat.
Harvest season generally falls during the 10th lunar month, a time when
southern Thais traditionally offer their products to the spirits of
their ancestors, particularly ones that have not yet reincarnated. They
believe these spirits will be released from the underworld, so the
living make merit by giving food offerings to Buddhist monks and
dedicate merit to the dead.
The merit making starts on the first day of the festival. Fifteen days
from this day the spirits of the dead will go back to the underworld.
The people then arrange a merit making ceremony again on the last day of
the festival, to which most people attend.
The villagers take the 13th day as the day to buy food, cook, and
arrange in sets to offer to monks on the next day. Sets of food
offerings are usually laid on a short bamboo basket, added to other
items used by monks. The set requires five major Thai snacks. The first
is Phong, representing a vehicle that will take the spirits to heaven.
The second is La, as clothing for the dead, and thirdly, Kong as an
accessory. The forth is Di Sam, believed to be used as money by the
dead. And finally, Ba snack, given to the dead as a tool for playing on
Songkran day. However, the elderly believe that there is another snack
needed to be put in. It is La Loy, acting as a bed and a pillow for the
spirits. Most of these items are dried snacks that can be kept for a
long time.
Following giving food offerings to monks, the people hold a ceremony to
give alms to Pret, a hungry ghost with a thin tall body. Foods and
snacks are put on a high post so that Prets can reach them. Then the
monks pray to call for the ghosts. After the ceremony, poor villagers or
children will rush to snatch the foods and snacks, commonly known as the
Ching Pret ceremony.
Besides a usual merit making ceremony of the local people, the
provincial authorities organize a procession of food offerings in the
city, plus governmental exhibitions, and an OTOP fair. There are also
cultural shows and performances during the festival.
