Phi Ta khon festival, Dan Sai, Loei.

In 2018, it will be from 16 to 18 June 2018.

Have you ever been closer to the world of the spirits? Well, we are not asking about your personal super natural experience, but the passion, spookiness of the virtual ghost world like Halloween that takes place on October 31 in the West. There is another festival in the same line of Halloween, and we are talking about Phi Ta khon, a famous festival of Thailand. If you want to experience this exciting festival then you have to visit the Dan Sai district of Loei province, which is located at a distance of 80 km from Loei or 450 kilometers from Bangkok. If you visit the nation in the month of June, you can encounter the mischief, madness, fun and excitement of the supernatural and spiritual presence.

In front, these were children disguised in ghosts…

Origin of Phi Ta khon- This unique festival is one of the greatest attractions of Thailand. This festival is a part of ‘Bun Pha Ves,? which is a fun-filled holiday for the Buddhists. How this festival started is not clearly known. However, there is a belief among the locals that the period of the last life of Buddha held the origin of this festival. That was the period when Buddha was going through the last stage of his life before he reached his ultimate heavenly destination.

You will see many “groups” of ghosts and tourists or visitors taking pictures.

The “ghosts” will gently pose for you…

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History of the festival ? How the festival begins to be celebrated in this part of Thailand explains an interesting story. Though the exact origin of the festival is unclear, but there is a strong belief among the people of this area that it all started in the period when Buddha was born as Prince Vessandron. As per the claims of the Buddhist folklore, the prince was bighearted and a very kind person. He didn?t hesitate to give away to the people with free hands. On a particular day, the prince distributed a white elephant. This royal animal was a symbol of rain and the people of the kingdom got worried that the village might face disasters like famine and drought. They were fuming with anger and decided to send away the prince into exile. It began the journey of the prince and after a long time, the king and his people asked him to come back. They were not angry anymore and celebrated the arrival of the prince with tremendous joy. Their excitement and celebration were so noisy that it resulted in the awakening of the dead. The celebration was therefore, joined by the dead, and it marked the beginning of the festival.

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These 2 guys were hilarious!

The festival- When the sixth or seventh lunar month arrives, normally in June, Phi Ta Khon is celebrated. Much like Halloween, the participants decorate themselves with weird hats, masks and ghost-like dresses. The kids play tricks all around the town. They use coconut tree bases to make huge masks and these masks symbolize this celebration. On one day, a masked procession takes place, followed by dance, music and entertainment. People also visit the temple in dancing style and fire-off rockets made up of bamboo and it means the procession has come to an end. You will also find that monks are reciting the story of Buddha?s last avatar before he attained nirvana.

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Phi Ta Khon Festival 2018

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What is Phi Ta Khon?

Phi Ta Khon (ผีตาโขน) is one of Thailand’s most visually spectacular festivals — sometimes called the ‘Ghost Festival’ or ‘Thai Halloween’. Held in Dan Sai, a small town in Loei province in northern Isaan, the festival involves participants dressing as colourful spirits wearing towering masks made from sticky rice steamers and coconut palms, their faces painted with comical expressions in bright reds, greens, and yellows. The result is an explosion of colour, noise, and irreverent fun that lasts several days.

Origins and Meaning

The festival has roots in a local legend connected to the Buddhist story of Prince Vessantara (Phra Wetsandon), one of the Buddha’s former lives. According to local belief, when the prince returned from exile, the townspeople celebrated so wildly that even the spirits (phi) joined in — wearing improvised costumes over their heads (ta khon = eyes covered). The festival blends Buddhist merit-making with animist spirit beliefs that are deeply embedded in rural Isaan culture. The main three-day celebration includes merit-making ceremonies, processions, music, and the famous masked dancing.

The Masks and Costumes

The most distinctive element is the mask: a pointed hat constructed from a sticky rice steamer basket (huad), topped with a carved wooden spout, and fitted with a face made from a coconut shell. Each mask is individually decorated and becomes a prized possession. The costumes beneath are equally elaborate — patchwork robes in riotous colours, with participants often carrying wooden phalluses as fertility symbols (a nod to the pre-Buddhist animist origins of the festival). Attending craft workshops where masks are made is possible if you arrive a few days before the main events.

Getting There

Dan Sai is located in Loei province, about 300 km from Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) and roughly 80 km from Loei city. The festival date varies year to year — it is set by a local spirit medium — but typically falls between June and July. Check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for the exact dates each year. Accommodation in Dan Sai is limited and books out very fast; most visitors stay in Loei city or Phitsanulok and travel in on the festival days.