Loei to host ghost mask festival in June
published : 27 May 2021 at 04:00 Phi Ta Khon or the ghost mask festival.
The annual Phi Ta Khon festival will return to the Dan Sai district of Loei province next month. Known as the ghost mask festival, it is a popular event in the Northeast. It is held either in June or July depending on the decision of Chao Pho Kuan, a spiritual leader who conducts local ceremonies in Dan Sai.
This year, the event will be organised from June 11-13 at Wat Phon Chai where the Phi Ta Khon Museum is located.
Locals believe that the origin of the festival came from a Buddhist tale. It started when King Vessantara or King Vessandorn, one of Buddha s past lives, returned from meditation in a forest monastery to the city. His people came out to welcome him and among them were spirits that followed him joyfully from the forest to the city.
Stupa ceremony in Loei
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The Dan Sai Municipality will organise a celebration to worship Phrathat Sri Song Rak in Loei s Dan Sai district from tomorrow to Monday.
The annual event is organised on the Full Moon day of the sixth lunar month. The date falls on Monday this year.
Located on a hill by the bank of Man River, Phrathat Sri Song Rak is one of the highly revered stupas in the Northeast. The history dates back to the year 1560 when the white stupa was built to indicate the goodwill between Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya and King Chai Chetthathirath of Lan Xang (now part of Laos).