Merit-making in the South
From Sept 14-23, the “Bun Sat Duan Sib And Red Cross” fair will be held at the Princess Mother Memorial Park (Thung Thalat) and in front of the provincial hall and Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipal Office in Muang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The fair has become an annual event since 1923.
The Bun Sat Duan Sib, or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, is celebrated in the 10th Thai lunar month. It focuses on a merit-making ceremony to pay respect to ancestors. Based on animistic beliefs and Buddhism, pret (hungry ghosts) are imagined as tall, skinny and hungry since they have no one to make merit for them. After making offerings to the ghosts, merit-makers sit down to enjoy a feast. This is also a family occasion for people in the South who visit older relatives on this day.
The objectives of the fair are to promote and continue local traditions and knowledge, support tourism, boost people’s unity and gratefulness to ancestors, raise funds for the Thai Red Cross and charity and support the nomination of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan to be a Unesco World Heritage site.
At the park, there will be the opening ceremony on the first day and concerts and shows by famous actors, actresses and singers every day. Also, more than 90 performances by local students, a beauty contest, a Red Cross fair, the display of local knowledge, the sale of local desserts and handicrafts and exhibitions on sufficiency economy and alternative energy will be done.
At the Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipal Office’s stage, there will be a lullaby singing contest, a nang
talung shadow puppetry contest, and local dancing and poetry contests. The highlight is the procession of offerings called hom rub, which begins at 5pm on Sept 19 from the office to Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan.
In the field in front of the provincial hall, the contest for best pret effigies, the demonstration of pret effigy making and a parade will take place. Also, there will be sport competitions and art contests.
In addition, Red Cross lottery tickets will be sold. Lucky winners will receive 72 prizes, including a car and a pickup.
For more information, call the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat Office on 075-346-515-6.