[2025 Dan Sai ] Travel Guide for Phi Ta Khon Festival (Updated Jun)

One of the most famous festivals in Thailand related to the spirits is the Bun Luang Festival in Loei. Legend has it that the villagers celebrated the return of Prince Vessandorn, the incarnation of the Buddha, after a long journey, and the noise woke up the spirits, who wanted to celebrate as well. The most famous part of Bun Luang is the parade, where villagers wear colorful costumes and ghost masks made from wicker steamers. The wicker steamers are used to steam sticky rice, a staple food in northeastern Thailand. The Bun Luang Festival also showcases the painting skills of artists. The Bun Luang Festival (Thai: ผีตาโขน, transliterated as "Pitakong"), also known as the Thai Ghost Festival, is a local festival held in Loei, Thailand, for three days between June and July each year, with the exact date determined by local mediums. The entire event is called Bun Luang. The festival is held to pray for good weather and a good harvest of fruits and rice. "Pitakong" also means "evil-looking ghost" in Thai.