Phi Ta Khon is one of Thailand's most vibrant, unusual, and regionally distinct festivals, celebrated annually in the Dan Sai district of Loei Province, located in the northeastern region of Isan. Often referred to as the "Ghost Festival," Phi Ta Khon is a lively fusion of animistic folk beliefs, Buddhist traditions, and raucous community celebration that typically lasts for three days in June or July.The festival's origins are deeply rooted in a Buddhist tale from the Vessantara Jataka, which recounts the Buddha’s penultimate rebirth as Prince Vessantara. The legend states that when the Prince returned to his city after a long exile, his welcome was so grand that both the living and the dead (the "ghosts" or phi) came out of the forests and graves to join the joyous procession. The festival acts as a theatrical reenactment of this legend.The defining feature of Phi Ta Khon is the elaborate, instantly recognizable masks worn by the participants. These masks are typically crafted from dried coconut husks or rice husks for the face and topped with a long, curved steamer basket (huad) painted to resemble the distinctive horn of a water buffalo. The entire ensemble is brightly painted with exaggerated features—large eyes, pointed noses, and huge, leering grins—giving them a comic yet slightly unsettling appearance.Participants, primarily young men, dress in colorful patchwork rags and wear these grotesque masks, brandishing long wooden phallic symbols (bangkawi) and carrying noisy tin cans or bells to announce their presence. They dance, tease spectators, and parade through the town in a celebratory frenzy. The three-day event culminates in a series of solemn ceremonies led by local mediums, including rocket firing (a plea for rain), sermons at the temple, and the crucial tradition of participants taking off and discarding their costumes near the local river to symbolically wash away bad luck. Phi Ta Khon is a powerful cultural display that balances mischievous fun and deep spiritual merit-making, showcasing the unique folk heritage of Loei Province.