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.
