A rare sight, Yasothon villagers join in continuing the ancient tradition of ‘Boon Khao Pratap Din’ to dedicate merit to deceased relatives, including ghosts and homeless spirits on the night of the 14th waning moon of the 9th lunar month, believed to be the day the gates of hell open.
Villagers in Tad Thong Subdistrict, Mueang District, Yasothon Province prepared sweet and savory food, cigarettes, and betel leaves as offerings according to the traditions of the Bun Khao Pratap Din or the merit-making ceremony of the ninth lunar month. They will then make the sweet and savory food into a bag, or what the villagers call a ‘small rice bag.’ After midnight, on the new day, which is the 14th waning moon of the ninth lunar month, they will take the small rice bags they have prepared to the temple and separate to place them at various points in the temple. They will call their parents, deceased relatives, as well as ghosts or homeless spirits to receive the merit that has been dedicated to them. They believe that
the 14th waning moon of the ninth lunar month is the day the gates of hell open, so deceased relatives will return to receive the merit that their children and grandchildren have dedicated to them.
Mr. Sathit Phairin, 74 years old, a villager of Ban Khon Sai, Yasothon Province, said that the Bun Khao Pratap Din tradition is an ancient tradition that villagers in the countryside have inherited and practiced since their ancestors until today. It is considered a merit-making ceremony in the ninth lunar month to dedicate merit to relatives who have passed away because it is believed that on the night of the 14th waning moon of the ninth lunar month, the gates of hell open, and relatives who have passed away will return to receive merit that their children and grandchildren have dedicated to them.
The ingredients for making merit include sweet and savory food, cigarettes, and betel leaves, prepared as a rice bundle. After midnight on the 14th waning day of the 9th lunar month, villagers will take the small rice
bundles and place them at various points in the temple, along with calling for the deceased relatives to come and take the sweet and savory food back to eat.
Bun Khao Pratap Din is a belief that has been passed down for generations that on the 14th waning day of the 9th lunar month, the gates of hell are opened, and the spirits of the deceased, including ghosts and hell beings, will ascend to the human world. Therefore, the Bun Khao Pratap Din tradition was born, because it involves placing sweet and savory food at various points, or what is called ‘Yai Ho Khao Noi’, where the word ‘Yai’ means placing food at intervals so that the spirits can receive the food that the villagers bring to make merit, and it is done quietly, without beating gongs or drums.
After placing the offerings, the villagers will return home to prepare food to make merit at the temple again in the morning. When the monks have finished their morning meal, they will give a sermon to celebrate the merit of the rice decorations. After makin
g offerings, they will pour water to dedicate the merit to those who have passed away.
Source: Thai News Agency