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Phuket’s Por Tor Festival centred on paying respect to familial ancestors
Phuket’s annual Por Tor Festival, also celebrated throughout Southeast Asia as the “Hungry Ghost Festival”, will take place on the island from September 3-19.
The Por Tor Festival commences on the 15th day of the seventh waxing moon according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Thais with Chinese ancestry believe that the Gates of Hell open at this time to allow the spirits of their ancestors to re-enter the mortal realm to visit their relatives and seek food and entertainment.
Hungry ghosts, also know as preat in Thai, are said to be human-like with a tall skeletal figure, long neck, and very small mouth, which keeps them from ever satisfying their hunger.
The are believed to be people whose deaths have been violent or unhappy, as well as the ancestors of those who have forgotten to pay tribute to them after they died.
Festival activities are centred around Por Tor Kong Shrine in Phuket Town, which is dedicated to the god Por Tor – the King of Hell. The shrine features painted panels depicting some of the gruesome punishments handed down by Por Tor to those souls judged to be worthy of such suffering.
During the festival participants prepare various foods, carved fruits and colourful desserts to place at altars for the spirits of their ancestors.
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