“Sarth Duan Sib” or the Tenth Lunar Month Tradition in Phatthalung, in the South of Thailand

The tenth lunar month tradition or it’s known by Southern Thai people as “Sarth Duan Sib”.

Sarth means religious tradition or festival

Duan means month

Sib means ten

Sarth Duan Sib is held in September annually. (September is the tenth month according to the ancient Thai calendar.)

We believe in the life after death; i.e. the ones who did good things will be in heaven and the ones who did bad things will be in hell.

Each year in September, heaven or hell will allow those souls to come back on earth to visit their loved ones, so at the beginning of the “Sarth Duan Sib”, we welcome them by making merit at the temple.

We believe that they will receive the foods and drinks from the merit that we give through the monks.

The monks will pray and give them blessings as well.

(we make unique desserts specially for "Sarth Duan Sib", as you may notice from the first photo)

Apart from making merit, we also decorate their places with beautiful flowers.

At the end of the “Sarth Duan Sib”, we gather together at the temple and make merit again and to say goodbye to our beloved ones.

We believe that they would certainly be happy with these things we do for them.

We miss them all….

p.s. These photos are from my sister.