PeeTaKhonMeritMaking

29 JUNE 2014 - DAN SAI, LOEI, THAILAND: A woman donates Thai Baht to Wat Ponchai during a merit making on the last morning of the Ghost Festival. Phi Ta Khon (also spelled Pee Ta Khon) is the Ghost Festival. Over three days, the town's residents invite protection from Phra U-pakut, the spirit that lives in the Mun River, which runs through Dan Sai. People in the town and surrounding villages wear costumes made of patchwork and ornate masks and are thought be ghosts who were awoken from the dead when Vessantra Jataka (one of the Buddhas) came out of the forest. On the last day of the festival people participate in merit making ceremonies at the Wat Ponchai in Dan Sai and lead processions through town soliciting donations for the temple. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: PhiTaKhon129.jpg
Copyright: © Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 5435x3623 / 11.0MB; 062914 Buddhism Dan Sai Esan Esarn Festival Ghost Festival Isaan Isan Isarn Loei Merit Making Pee Ta Khon Phi Ta Khon Procession Religion Thailand Wat Phonchai Wat Ponchai ZUMA
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All)

29 JUNE 2014 - DAN SAI, LOEI, THAILAND: A woman donates Thai Baht to Wat Ponchai during a merit making on the last morning of the Ghost Festival. Phi Ta Khon (also spelled Pee Ta Khon) is the Ghost Festival. Over three days, the town's residents invite protection from Phra U-pakut, the spirit that lives in the Mun River, which runs through Dan Sai. People in the town and surrounding villages wear costumes made of patchwork and ornate masks and are thought be ghosts who were awoken from the dead when Vessantra Jataka (one of the Buddhas) came out of the forest. On the last day of the festival people participate in merit making ceremonies at the Wat Ponchai in Dan Sai and lead processions through town soliciting donations for the temple. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ