Fait and Rituals of Ghost Raising Adopted by Karen People at Ban Pu Ter Community, Mae Ku Sub District, Mae Sot District, Tak Province

Abstract

This article aims to study the ghost raising rituals, including transmission of the belief that is closely involving with the way of life of Karen people living at Ban Pu Ter Community, Mae Ku Sub District, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. The purpose of this study therefore can be broken into 2 parts, namely 1) the belief and 2) the rituals.

The study reveals that the Karen people are surrounded by nature. They have animistic faith in encompassing environment as holy sacred objects. This belief can be seen from 3 ghost raising rituals, namely Lue-Thee-Bo (หลื้อทีบอ) ritual (Dam ghosts), Sae-Ji (แสะจี่) ritual (Field ghosts), and Lue-Klor (หลื้อเกลาะ) ritual (Plantation ghosts). These rituals have long been being succeeded with high respect on nature. The tribal people express their faith by worshipping natural ghosts and pleading for abundance in their agricultural activities. Moreover, the belief also associates with auspicious occasion, water spirit of water, the existence of ghosts, and ceremonial items. Even though social situations have been changed, and religions have influenced the community, the rituals still exist. This indicated that the belief and rituals of ghost raising are deeply and firmly rooted in the Karen community at Ban Pu Ter Community, Mae Ku Sub District, Mae Sot District, Tak Province.