San Don Ta Festival, Surin
The San Don Ta Festival is a traditional ceremony celebrated by the Kuy (Kui) people in Surin Province. It is a cultural and religious ritual that honors ancestral spirits and local deities, reflecting the communitys deep connection with their heritage, agriculture, and way of life.
The San Don Ta Festival, also known as Khmer Sarak Day (วันสารทเขมร), is a traditional Khmer-Kuy ritual observed in Surin Province.
It is a ceremony to honor deceased ancestors and spirits, combining religious rites, cultural performances, and community gatherings. The festival reflects the syncretism of Buddhist and animist beliefs in the region and serves as a way for the community to pay respect, seek blessings, and maintain social cohesion.
Meaning and Origin of San Don Ta Festival
The term San Don Ta comes from the Khmer language:
- San means offering or worship.
- Don Ta refers to grandfather or ancestor.
Thus, San Don Ta literally means offering to the ancestors or a ritual to honor and pay respect to ones forebears.
Timing of the San Don Ta Festival
The San Don Ta Festival is held every year during the 10th lunar month.
- It begins on the 1st waning day of the 10th lunar month, believed to be the day when the gates of the afterlife open, allowing ancestral spirits to return and visit their living relatives.
- The festival concludes on the 15th waning day of the 10th lunar month, when the spirits are believed to return to the afterlife.
This period is considered sacred and auspicious for performing rituals to honor ancestors.
The Three Important Days of the San Don Ta Festival
Three Important Days of the Sart Don Ta Festival, Surin Province
1. Ben Toch Day 14th waxing moon day of the 10th lunar month
This marks the beginning of the festival. People perform ancestral offerings at home and offer food to monks at temples to dedicate merit to the spirits of their ancestors.
2. Kan Song Day 15th waxing moon day of the 10th lunar month
This is the day following Ben Toch. In the morning and at noon, villagers offer food to monks at temples, continuing the merit-making for their departed ancestors.
3. Sart Don Ta Day or Ben Thom Day (the Great Sart Day) 14th waning moon day of the 10th lunar month
This is the most important day of the festival. Families gather to make merit at temples and then perform ancestral offerings at home once again.
It is considered a sacred duty for every family member to participate, expressing gratitude and respect to their forebears and ancestors.
Items to Prepare for the Sart Donta (Ancestor Worship) Ceremony
Each household performs the Sart Donta ceremony at a convenient time for the family.
The essential items to prepare for the Sart Donta ceremony include:
Items to Prepare for the Sart Donta Ceremony
1. Five floral cones (Kruai Dokmai 5), also known as Khan 5, arranged on a tray along with money or valuable items.
2. New clothing such as shirts, sarongs, or silk skirts along with fragrant powder, perfume, scented water, a comb, and a mirror.
3. A set of food offerings including one boiled duck, one boiled chicken, or sometimes a pigs head, depending on what each family can prepare.
4. Various traditional sweets, such as:
- Khao Tom (sticky rice wrapped in young coconut leaves),
- Khao Tom Mud (sticky rice with banana filling),
- Khanom Tian (pyramid-shaped sweet),
- Khanom Sai Sai (sweet coconut filling wrapped in leaves),
- Kan Truam, Kan Tang Rang, Khanom Nang Let (crispy rice sweet),
- Khanom Khai Hong (sweet fried dough balls),
- Khao Krieb (rice crackers), and Khao Pong (puffed rice).
5. Fruits, especially ripe bananas and young coconuts, which are considered essential.
6. Drinks such as water or liquor (as appropriate), two candles (to be lit and kept burning throughout the ceremony), and incense sticks for the offering trays and food.
Steps and Activities in the Sart Donta (Ancestor Worship) Ceremony
Steps and Activities in the Sart Donta Ceremony
1. Preparation of Offerings
Families prepare various offerings such as cooked rice, traditional sweets, fruits, and drinks for the ceremony. These items symbolize gratitude and respect toward the ancestors.
2. Ancestral Worship at Home
On the 14th waning moon of the tenth lunar month, family members gather at the home of the family elder to perform the ancestral worship ceremony. Candles and incense are lit, and the spirits of ancestors are invited to receive the offerings and bless their descendants.
3. Making Merit at the Temple
On the 15th waning moon of the tenth lunar month, families bring food and offerings to the temple to make merit for their ancestors and wandering spirits. Monks chant blessings, and the merit made is dedicated to those who have passed away.
4. Banana-Sheath Boat Floating Ceremony
After the temple rituals, families participate in the floating of banana-sheath boats containing small offerings such as rice, sweets, and incense. These are floated in rivers or ponds as a symbolic gesture to send the spirits of ancestors back to the underworld in peace.
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Sart Donta Festival, Surin Province: The Khmer Festival of Gratitude
Sart Donta is not merely a religious ceremony it also plays a vital role in strengthening family and community bonds. It is a time when descendants return home to make merit and honor their ancestors, fostering unity and togetherness among relatives. The festival stands as a true reflection of gratitude, respect for elders, and the preservation of deep cultural roots that have been passed down through generations.
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