Thaa Yai Festival

Even without the presence of the interesting and exciting Koh Samui attractions, the island’s tourism would still be going strong, thanks to its abundance of white sand beaches and exotic first-class accommodations. Regardless, special annual events and other crowd-drawers make this tropical destination even more worthwhile.

A yearly event known as Thaa Yai is celebrated throughout various parts of Thailand to commemorate the dead.  Although in other parts of Thailand the festival may be called something else besides “Thaa Yai”.

In Koh Samui, the special occasion takes place every September, and follows the exact same rituals practiced annually – families prepare a certain meal, and bring it to their local temple as an offering for their departed loved ones.

The meals are then gathered to create a grand fiesta for all of those who have passed away and are no longer with us. In addition to this, the locals also prepare additional offerings in the form of food, which are given to the temple’s monks.

Moreover, the islanders believe that the dead are actually present for approximately two weeks during Thaa Yai. During this span of time, people frequently return to the temple to offer more food for their deceased blood relatives, and as well as the monks.

What makes this annual affair even more interesting (which is also probably why it was included in the list of Koh Samui attractions) is the inclusion of wooden skewers with each meal prepared. Attached to these objects are messages written by the families for their departed loved ones. And at the end of the two-week event, a big feast is held, which is often thought of as a last supper with the lifeless and monks.

Seasoned travelers who’ve been to several parts of Asia will notice a wide range of annual events bearing close similarity to Thaa Yai. In Japan, the locals celebrate the return of their dead family members during an event known as Obon. While this special affair is generally held during the month of August, the celebration date may vary from region to region.

Aside from this festivity, there are other occasions, which belong to the long list of Koh Samui attractions. More and more tourists and vacationists are now spending their holidays at this tropical paradise for plenty of good reasons, wherein one includes a rare opportunity to witness many cultural attractions that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.