WESmile Magazine June 2019

TRAVEL
PHI TA KHON
Ghosts And Spirits Roam the Streets
THAILAND’S NORTHEAST IS A REGION OF YEAR-ROUND FESTIVALS.
DAN SAI DISTRICT IN LOEI PROVINCE IS THE VENUE OF AN INTERESTING
ACTIVITY THAT INTEGRATES FAITH, TRADITION AND SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEF
INTO A FUN-FILLED FESTIVAL. PHI TA KHON, OR THE MASK FESTIVAL,
IS HELD SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE FIRING OF BAMBOO ROCKETS.
บน : ขบวนแห่ผีตาโขน สีสันและความครื้นเครงของเทศกาลนี้ในทุกปี
Top : The colourful and fun-filled Phi Ta Khon procession
上 方 : 鬼 节 游 行 , 每 年 艳 丽 多 彩 及 欢 腾 热 闹 。
กลางซ้าย : ผีตาโขนใหญ่
Centre left : Phi Ta Khon Yai
左 中 方 : 大 鬼 木 偶 。
กลางขวา : หน้ากากผีตาโขนมีหลากหลายรูปแบบ
Centre right : Different designs of Phi Ta Khon masks
右 中 方 : 各 种 鬼 面 具 的 样 式 。
ล่าง : สาธิตวิธีการทำหน้ากากผีตาโขน
Bottom : A demonstration on making Phi Ta Khon masks
下 方 : 鬼 面 具 的 制 作 示 范 。
บน : พระธาตุศรีสองรัก
ปูชนียสถานที่มีการ
แห่ผีตาโขนเช่นเดียวกัน
ตั้งอยู่ไม่ห่างจากวัดโพนชัย
Top : Phi Ta Khon
procession also
moves to Phra That
Sri Song Rak near
Wat Phon Chai.
上 方 : 临 近 蓬 猜 寺 的 帕 斯 那 松
罗 佛 塔 也 作 为 鬼 节 游 行 的 举
Phi is a ghost. However, they are fun-loving ghosts.
They are young people who dress in costumes and
colourful masks to join a tourist-attracted parade
around town. A tale of the Lord Buddha’s last
incarnation before his enlightenment mentions
roaming spirits, thus an inspiration for Phi Ta Khon.
Wat Phon Chai is the main venue of the 3-day
festival. The highlight is on the 2 nd day when
residents from different villages in Dan Sai District
wear ghost costumes and multi-coloured masks
to join a lively parade along the streets. Heading
for Wat Phon Chai, they carry Chao Pho Kuan
and Chao Mae Nang Tiem, the sacred god and
goddess, in the procession. Bamboo rockets are
later fired into the sky.
There are 2 types of Phi Ta Khon: Phi Ta Khon
Lek, the small or common spirit, and Phi Ta Khon Yai,
the bigger spirit twice the size of a man. There is only
a pair of Phi Ta Khon Yai in the procession and their
costumes are thrown into the river after the ceremony
“to drift away unhappiness.”
The main chapel of Wat Phon Chai and the nearby
Phi Ta Khon museum are worth a visit.
TRAVELLERS’ GUIDE
Time to go : The festival is on July 5-7, 2019.
Getting there : THAI Smile operates flights between
Bangkok and Udon Thani. For reservations: www.
thaismileair.com. From Udon Thani, travel 152 km by
car to Loei and 80 km from Loei city to Dan Sai District.
More info : TAT Loei office, tel 042 812 812
68 June 2019
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办 地 点 。