A Study of Thaen Offering Ritual at Ban Huai Pang, Dan Sub-district, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province DOI:

Abstract

This article aimed to study of rituals and beliefs in the “Thaen” offering ritual at Ban Huai Pang, Dan sub-district, Kap Choeng district, Surin province. The study steps had the process of field visits to Thai-Lao people’s community interviews of the belief in God in heaven and servants. They gradually serve and receive orders to take care of and help humans in various fields such as living, agriculture, living in a house and coexisting with rules, rules or punishment, combat and community care. By behaving and following this belief, the community has to follow the rules and customs. Due to the belief base on transcendent powers and God in heaven, the ritual is held to communicate to the God and servants who brings the message from God to the human and also can help and treat human suffering as well. The results of the study of rituals and beliefs showed that the rituals were healing and foretelling events. The form of rituals and beliefs was the rituals offerings which contained elements of offerings such as flowers, food, clothing, accessories, and weapons. Guidelines for preservation and inheritance are as follows: (1) should encourage learning about the origin of traditions including beliefs and rituals of the community, and should bring knowledge to teach in educational institutions. (2) There should create innovation of beliefs and the addition of the value of symbols that appear in rituals such as swords, elephants, and horses which are made of wood. (3) Rituals and beliefs should be aligned with the way of life of the community as it creates happiness and peace in the community with prohibitions and penalties of offenders as a framework for society. The rituals and beliefs can be the basis for the mind and behaviour of the Thai-Lao people.