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7.2 The Festival of the Tenth Lunar

Tourist : I’m thinking of going down South to somewhere which is not too touristy What do you think about Nakhon Si Thammarat? Guide: It’s an interesting province, and you’ll like it because there are not many tourists there. Tourist: Besides the places discussed in some guide books, is there anything I should see while in the province? I mean, culturally? Guide: Yes, of course. Have you heard about the Festival of the Tenth ? It’s a traditional merit-making occasion celebrated in the southern region, especially in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The people will make merit on the last three days of the waning in the tenth lunar month of the traditional Thai . Tourist: Oh, yeah. Guide: This festival is a ten-day celebration, scheduled on certain days from mid-September to mid-October. Tourist: It sounds great. But what is the idea behind this celebration? Guide: Well, it’s a widely held belief in southern that during the fifteen nights of the waxing moon period in the tenth lunar month, the souls of the ancestors are permitted to visit their relatives. Tourist: I see. Guide: During this period, the living make merit for the dead. For example, various kinds of foods and sweets are offered to monks. Tourist: That’s very interesting.

Vocabulary 1. traditional - แบบดั้งเดิม เปนประเพณ ี 2. merit-making - การทําบุญ 3. waning moon - ขางแรม 4. lunar month - เดือนตามจันทรคติ 5. the souls of the ancestors - วิญญาณของบรรพบุรุษ 6. living - คนที่มีชีวิตอย ู 92

Reading Religious festival at the tenth lunar month, Sart Duen Sib is one of essential Southern people festival, has continuously done since ancient time to present day. According to Buddhist belief that in the end of month tenth there are parent, grandparent and relatives whom passed away, especially sinners in hell called “Pred” are temporary permitted by the King of Hell to leave there, to reunion or meet their children or relative on the earth in Thai waning moon 15 evening, month 10 and return to hell in waning moon 15 evening, month 10.

The tenth lunar month festival beyond make merit for passed away family, relatives or other, there is an essential part of the offering set, the 5 confections. These 5 confections are the symbolic of the tenth lunar month festival, each of it have its belief significations, besides these confections are proper provisions for monks through the rain season. - Khanom Pawng (ขนมพอง) or Pawng confection symbolizes the raft or float to cross the ocean between hell and earth. - Khanom La (ขนมลา) or La confection symbolizes clothes or costumes. - Khanom Dee Sam (ขนมดีซํา) or Dee Sam confection symbolizes money. - Khanom Bah ( ขนมบา) or Bah confection symbolizes Sa-ba, Thai recreation, for the deaths play in Songkhran day (Thai New ). - Khanom Gong (ขนมกง) Gong confection symbolizes the ornaments.

(Source: http://southernfolklore.blogspot.com) Vocabulary 1. relatives - ญาติพี่นอง 2. temporary - ชั่วคราว 3. passed away – ที่เสียชีวิต 4. offering set - ชุดของเซนไหว บูชา 5. provisions - เสบียงอาหาร

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Questions 1. What is ‘Pred’? 2. When can ‘Pred’ meet their children or relative on the earth? 3. What is the significance of confections?

Language Focus: Adjective

Adjective คือ คําที่ใชบรรยายคุณภาพ หรือลักษณะของคํานาม มีวิธีใช คือ 1. วางไวหน านาม เชน Religious festival at the tenth lunar month There is an essential part of the offering set These confections are proper provisions for monks.

2. วางไวหล ัง Verb to be เชน The tenth lunar month is essential for Southern people. These confections are proper for monks through the rain season.

Task

Students give some information about the festivals to their friends in class based on wh-questions: what , where, when, why, etc.