The festival of the Tenth Lunar Month was firstly 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.
The 10th lunar month or around September is the period when farms
yield the biggest amount of crops. So, in the past the local people decided to
offer their products to the spirits. The people believed that the time between
the 1st to the 15th day of the waning moon in the 10th lunar month is when the
spirits of their ancestors, particularly ones that have not yet reincarnated,
will be released from the underworld. On this occasion, those still alive 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.
