P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Phi Ta Khon 2018

RIPPLE,
PEOPLE.

MERIT BLESSING FERTILITY

15- 17 July 2018

This festival is premilary about merit gaining and

the fertility of the land, with people dressing up
in masks, representing the ghosts that were
attracted to Buddha’s return, this curated event
would focus and highlight more on the indept
issues underlayed.

A connection that links up everyone together is

presented at all times, but in the world where
everyone is busy with their lives, it gets hidden
throughout the year and as the festival comes
again, what was hidden needs to be seen, but
to achieve that, one needs to search deep
within to reflect on themselves to achieve one’s
fullfillment and spread the teachings which links
them together.

In short. Ripple, people.

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 A man dressed up as a ghost with his mask
Vessantara Jataka mural, 19th century, Wat Suwannaram,
Thonburi district, Bangkok, Thailand

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

What is the festival

all about?
The yearly event spanning of three days
people in Thailand look forward to.

Phi Ta Khon, sometimes known as Ghost Festival,
is the biggest attraction to the otherwise sleepy
farming village of Dan Sai, nestled in the deep
Pinning down the dates mountains of Loei province of north eastern
of Phi Ta Khon was Thailand, it takes some effort to reach there.
once an issue, with The event is peculiar to Dan Sai, but does
the village elders only combine elements of other Isaan festivals, such
as the rocket festivals to bring rain. The events
naming the dates a few take place over three days some time between
weeks beforehand, the March and July, the dates being selected annually
by the town's mediums and elders.
festival is now fixed at
the 1st weekend after Pinning down the dates of Phi Ta Khon was once
an issue, with the village elders only naming the
the 6th full moon. dates a few weeks beforehand, the festival is
now fixed at the first weekend after the sixth
full moon.
The whole event is called Bun Luang, which is
part of a Buddhist merit-making holiday which is
also known and called to be as Bun Phawet.
The main event takes place on Friday, when
there is a grand procession of men and boys
and these days, girls in their colorful masks
and costumes. The masks consist of a large
head piece made from the woven cone used to
steam sticky rice. The face is carved from wood
or banana trunks. The clothing was traditionally
sewn from rags of old cloth, but nowadays is
usually a kind of jumpsuit patched from several
colorful fabrics.
Some of the masked men will carry a carved
wooden ax with a handle carved to look like a
phallus, or sometimes just a big wooden phallic
charm called a Bhalad Khik. The parade passes
in front of reviewing stands on the main street,
and ends at Wat Phon Chai.
In addition to the main events, two of the town's
main temples are also hives of activity, especially
Wat Phonchai, where there are several activities
going on as well as a stage with traditional
dancing and competitions going on.
At Wat Prathat Song Rak, residents will come
to leave offerings around the ancient pagoda.
These will mainly be pyramidal bamboo frames
with wax shells affixed to them.

The Origin

The origins of this part of the festival are

traditionally ascribed to a story of the
Vessantara Jataka in which the Buddha in one
of his past lives as a prince made a long journey
and was presumed dead.

The celebrations on his return to his home city

in Dansai were so raucous as to wake even
the dead and they followed him back to town
adding on to the commotion that had already
been set going on.

The Story of Vessatara jataka

Vessantara Jataka mural, 19th century, Wat Suwannaram,
Thonburi district, Bangkok, Thailand

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 Mud men walking down the streets
Covering themselves in mud to represent Phra U-pakut

The Mud Men

A group of men, fueled up on rice whiskey, A group of men, often
cover themselves in mud from the Mun River
which runs through Dan Sai and shuffle through encouraged by the
town and in the parades. consumption of copious
The mud men channel the town's guardian amounts of lao khao rice
spirit, Phra U-pakut, who lives in the river, and whiskey, cover themselves
also in the procession represents the fertility of
the paddy, as they literally carry its soil on their in mud from the local river
bodies to represent the protector. and shuffle through town.
The mud men channel the
town's guardian spirit, Phra
U-pakut, who lives in the
river.

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Rockets flying in the skies
These pipes are sent to the skies to ask for the blessing of rain
Bang Fai come in various sizes, competing in several categories.
Small ones are called Bang Fai Noi Thai. Larger categories are
designated by the counting words for
- 10,000
- 100,000
- 1,000,000
Meun Thai Saen Thai and the largest Bang Fai, the Lan. These
counting words see use in many contexts to indicate increasing
size or value. Lan in this context may be taken to mean
extremely large as well as extremely expensive and extremely
dangerous.
Bang Fai Festival
For centuries the people of northeast Thailand,
or the Issan region, have conducted Bun Bang
Fai rocket ceremonies both to hasten the
coming of the rainy season and to earn merit in
the Buddhist tradition.
These Buddhist festivals are presumed to have
evolved from pre-Buddhist fertility rites held
to celebrate and encourage the coming of the
rains, from before the 9th century invention of
black powder.
This festival displays some earthy elements
of Lao folklore. Coming immediately prior to
the planting season, the festivals offer an
excellent chance to make merry before the hard
P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e
work begins, as well as enhancing communal
prestige, and attracting and redistributing
wealth as in any gift culture.
Celebrations typically include preliminary
music and dance performances, competitive
processions of floats, dancers and musicians
on the second day, and culminating on the
third day in competitive firings of home-made
rockets.
Local participants and sponsors use the
occasion to enhance their social prestige, as is
customary in traditional Buddhist folk festivals
throughout Southeast Asia.
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 Mud men walking down the streets
Covering themselves in mud to represent Phra U-pakut

Phi Ta Khon Parade

The main event takes place on Friday, when Some of the masked men
there is a grand procession of men and boys
and these days, girls in their colorful masks will carry a carved wooden
and costumes. The masks consist of a large ax with a handle carved
head piece made from the woven cone used to
steam sticky rice. The face is carved from wood to look like a phallus,
or banana trunks. The clothing was traditionally or sometimes just a big
sewn from rags of old cloth, but nowadays is
usually a kind of jumpsuit patched from several wooden phallic charm called
colorful fabrics. a Bhalad Khik.
Some of the masked men will carry a carved
wooden ax with a handle carved to look like a
phallus, or sometimes just a big wooden phallic
charm called a Bhalad Khik. The parade passes
in front of reviewing stands on the main street,
and ends at Wat Phon Chai.

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Phi Ta Khon Mask

These are the materials that you need to make the mask
Mask Making
Sheets and blankets are sewn together to
create makeshift shrouds and large, long masks
are made by carving designs into the bases of
coconut trees and then painting the mask to
resemble a ghostly face.
These Buddhist festivals are presumed to have
evolved from pre-Buddhist fertility rites held
to celebrate and encourage the coming of the
rains, from before the 9th century invention of
black powder.

Hats are made from bamboo containers, usually
used to store sticky rice and to represent the
abundance and blessing
For centuries the people of northeast Thailand,
or the Issan region, have conducted Bun Bang
Fai rocket ceremonies both to hasten the
coming of the rainy season and to earn merit in
the Buddhist tradition.
This festival displays some earthy elements of
Lao folklore. Coming immediately prior to the
planting season, the festivals offer an excellent
chance to make merry before the hard work
begins, as well as enhancing communal prestige,
and attracting and redistributing wealth as in
any gift culture.

Painting the Phi Ta Khon Mask

Many colours can be used, there is no specific rule to it

Some things that you need to prepare to make your own Phi
Ta Khon mask.

1. Wood / Banana trunk

2. Bamboo containers
3. Acrylic paint
4. Glue
5. Strings

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Festival Concept
The thoughts behind ‘Ripple, People.”

A connection that links

up everyone together is
presented at all times,
but in the world where
everyone is busy with
their lives, it gets hidden
throughout the year and as
the festival comes again,
what was hidden needs
to be seen, but to achieve

that, one needs to search

deep within to reflect on
themselves to achieve
one’s fullfillment and
spread the teachings which
links them together.

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 Sai Sin ceremony
Strings connecting all to the statue of Buddha to represent the
linkage of his blessings to the people.

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Connection
From the Sai Sin ceremony and believe of
the sacred thread, the connection is made
towards the festival and amongst people.

This cotton thread has been blessed in advance Sai sin is present in a range of ceremonies in
by a Buddhist monk and is known as ‘sai sin‘. The Thailand including weddings and funerals as well
sai sin is supposed to provide protection and
The thread may good health to the person wearing it.
as blessing ceremonies when people move into
a new home.
be strung around
The colour of the thread is usually white
a person’s fingers because it represents purity in Buddhism
At larger ceremonies there is often one big ball
of string which is first tied around a Buddha
or it can be looped although other colours including red may be image before being passed along to the monks
used depending on the region you are in and the
around their head. circumstances. But the sacred white thread isn't
in attendance. From there, the thread is passed
along to everybody else in attendance.
The important thing just worn on the wrist. If you visit a Thai temple
on important Buddhist holidays, you may see
is that the thread grid-lines of white string attached to the main
With each individual holding their hands in a wai,
the thread is looped around each person. The
links everybody to the Buddha images. thread may be strung around a person’s fingers or
monks and the Buddha Sai sin is present in a range of ceremonies in
it can be looped around their head. The important
thing is that the thread links everybody to the
image. Thailand including weddings and funerals as monks and the Buddha image. The chanting
well as blessing ceremonies when people move of the monks and the associated merit is then
into a new home. At traditional weddings in symbolically passed along the thread reaching all
Thailand the thread connects around the heads of the people in the congregation.
of the couple being married. Friends and family
will also tie sai sin bracelets around the wrists
of the newlyweds. At some Thai funerals, the
white thread may be circled three times around
the crematorium to wish the deceased good
luck and protection in the next life.

Sai Sin etiquette

You don’t have to be Buddhist to accept sai sin

so think of it as a good luck charm if somebody
ties the cotton bracelet to your wrist. Never
refuse sai sin if it is offered. To do so would be
disrespectful to the person offering.

If somebody thinks enough of you to want

to tie sai sin around your wrists, it is an act of
hospitality and should be accepted with grace.

Woman in Sai Sin ceremony

Tying the Sai sin around your head is done to connect whole
heartedly, and always perform it in a “Wai”.

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 EC
T
ION
Theme :
CONN

Festival :
RIPPLE PEOPLE

This festival is premilary about merit gaining and

the fertility of the land, with people dressing up
in masks, representing the ghosts that were
attracted to Buddha’s return, this curated event
would focus and highlight more on the indept
issues underlayed.

A connection that links up everyone together is

presented at all times, but in the world where
everyone is busy with their lives, it gets hidden
throughout the year and as the festival comes
again, what was hidden needs to be seen, but
to achieve that, one needs to search deep
within to reflect on themselves to achieve one’s
fullfillment and spread the teachings which links
them together.

In short. Ripple, people.

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Festival Concept

Stemmed from the idea using ‘Sai Sin’, the

sacred thread breacelet that Thai people use to
MERIT AND connect, receive and give Merit and Blessings,
the circle shape which is used in the bracelet
BLESSING
represents the increased in power through the
CONSTANTLY likes of constant.

Linkage Reflection

This represents the symbol of the link As we dive into the symbol, we understood that
presented in the Sai Sin, as well as in the to be able to be linked, reflections of the self
people. The element reflects well with what it have to be made, thus this represents the time
represents, and is also simple to understand. you take on reflecting.

Through reflection, we achieved the space that

was found in the middle when you split it.

Merit Buddha / Blessings Fertility

Like a ripple, merit making is an everyday This represents the third eye of Buddha as how Shaped to look like a seed, this symbol
lifestyle embeded into the lifes of the thai he is commonly represented. With the symbol represents the fertility that the people so
people, in this we wanted to show how the it also shows the blessings that you would dearly sought after in this festival, the bountiful
littlest things that you do makes a difference. associate with when you pray to him. harvest blessed upon their fields.

RIPPLE, In the final logo, it showcases the different graphic elements that we have created throughout
the process, and with a rippling effect that wraps them all together. The name 'Ripple People', also
PEOPLE. projects how the festival would be about, and that is to reconnect and connect with the people
around you.

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 Mud men walking down the streets
Covering themselves in mud to represent Phra U-pakut

The power of 3
Three is a significant number in Buddhism The number 3 is an
because it represents the Triple Gem or the
Three Jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma important number in
(the teachings of Buddha) and Sangha (the Buddhism because it
monkhood).
represents the Triple
When Thai Buddhists enter a temple they Gem or the Three Jewels
will often kneel in front of the main Buddha
image and bow three times whilst placing their of Buddhism: Buddha,
palms on the floor before bringing their hands Dharma (the teachings of
together to form a respectful wai.
Buddha) and Sangha (the
monkhood).

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Festival’s Schedule
RIPPLE,
PEOPLE.

Day 1
4:00 a.m.
Invocation of Pra Upakut

6:00 a.m.
Food Offerings to Monks at Phon-Chai
Temple.

8:30 a.m. Day 2

Ba- Si (Summoning of Spirits) Ceremony

10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.

Cultural Ceremony at Phon-Chai Temple by Grand opening ceremony by Loei Governor
Dan Sai Sheriff. Gathering for Phi Ta Khon
procession and competitions among groups 1.00 p.m.
marching along Keaw Asa Road. Performances on the stage

11:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.

Performances on the stage in front of Dan
Sai District Office.
Ba- Si (Summoning of Spirits) Phra Wet
3:30 p.m.
Phra Wet parade led by Chao Pho Kuan and
Chao-Mae Nang Tiem to Phon- Chai Temple
to make merit and firing of the Bamboo
rockets.
Day 3
7:00 p.m.
4:00 a.m.
Buddhist sermons at Phon-Chai Temple.
13 consecutive Buddhist sermons at Phon-
Chai Temple.

2:00 p.m
Closing Ceremony.

The origins of this part of

the festival are traditionally
ascribed to a story of
the Vessantara Jataka in
which the Buddha in one
of his past lives as a prince
made a long journey and
was presumed dead. The
celebrations on his return
were so raucous as to wake
the dead.

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Designs
Collaterals, Posters and more that were
created for ‘Ripple, People.” based on the
concepts that we have created on how the
festival originates and purposes itself.
This festival is premilary
about merit gaining and
the fertility of the land,
with people dressing up in
masks, representing the
ghosts that were attracted
to Buddha’s return, this
curated event would focus
and highlight more on the
indept issues underlayed.

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 Advertisement poster

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 P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

Personnel Identity

MEDIA STAFF
Reg No. 17283040 Reg No. 17283040

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 Direct Mail
Mail, book mark, invitation card,
information card.

PLACES OF INTERESTS!
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1 Jong Jai Borikan
Famous for their chicken kebabs
and spicy tom yum soup, Jong Jai
3 Borikan is a famous restaurant to
experienceamazing local food!

2 Phu Hin Rong Kla Park

This park is packed with pink
flowers that blossoms right at
1 this season, be sure to bring a
jacket as it could get chilly!

3 Prathat Si Song Rak

This small historic Buddhist site is
well worth a visit, starting with
the very impressive white
staircase leading up the the site.
Here one finds primarily locals
and only few western visitors.

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4 Phi Ta Khon Dan Sai Museum
Museum is set in grounds of Wat
Phon Chai, enter through large
white gate from the main road.
Lots of beautifully decorated
masks on display and lots of
photos of the Phi Ta Khon festival.

How to get there:

1. Take a flight to the airport “provincial capital Loei"
2. Rent a car from the nearest car dealer, or arrange a pick up car for the 1 hour drive.

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P h i Ta K h o n : R i p p l e P e o p l e

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