Phuket communities mark Sart Duen Sip with processions and merit-making

Residents in Baan Don and Kathu have marked Phuket’s Tenth Lunar Month, or Sart Duen Sip, with colourful processions, merit-making ceremonies and community festivals.

A street procession at Wat Thepkrasattri, also known as Wat Baan Don, on Oct 4 drew large numbers of residents. Community groups, nearby villages, businesses and government agencies carried elaborately decorated “Jad” offerings through the streets to the temple, where merit was made for deceased ancestors.

The offerings included figures of Pret, or hungry ghosts, dolls, cartoon characters and creatures from Thai literature. Residents and participating groups spent weeks preparing the structures for the annual event.

The Baan Don procession forms part of wider Tenth Lunar Month observances across Southern Thailand. Families traditionally prepare food and local sweets for merit-making ceremonies dedicated to deceased relatives, continuing customs passed down through generations.

In Kathu, the annual celebration at Wat Kathu opened on Oct 2. Kathu District Chief Witthaya Jitsupap presided over the ceremony with Wat Kathu Abbot Phra Khru Pariyatitheeranuyut, Kathu Mayor Wannayut Sutthikul, municipal officials, government representatives and community members.

Kathu Municipality organised the festival with Wat Kathu, local residents, schools and government agencies under the traditional “Boworn” framework, bringing together the home, temple, school and government sectors.

The Kathu festival runs until Oct 8 and includes the Nava Pha Chok lucky boat, prize draws, food and local products, as well as merit-making activities.