“The Festival of the Tenth Lunar Month (Sat Duan Sip) of Mueang Kon” The tradition of Buddhist Wisdom Creating a Safe Environment

Abstract

This academic article aims to introduce the “Tenth Month of Muang Kon” tradition of Buddhist wisdom to create a safe environment. When it comes to the famous tradition of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the Sat Month Sip Festival. It is an important tradition that has been with the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat for a long time and is a cultural heritage that reflects local beliefs combined with Buddhist principles. There is the belief in karma, spirits, heaven and hell. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors will return to the human world to receive merit from their descendants. This festival is observed annually during the waning moon of the tenth lunar month, specifically on the 1st, 14th, or 15th lunar days. These days are regarded as sacred, providing an occasion for families to express gratitude to the deceased ancestors, demonstrate love, and respect for elderly still living. The festival plays a crucial role in reinforcing family and kinship bonds while fostering a sense of unity within the community. It encourages individuals to engage in acts of goodness and merit-making collectively, thereby cultivating core moral values such as selflessness, respect, and reciprocity. This led to the concept of “Gratitude for the Living, Remembrance of the Dead: The Essence of Sat Duan Sip”, which the Southern Alcohol-Free Network has used to create " Safe City Without Alcohol Festival”. This is the result of cooperation between the public, private, and public sectors to preserve the traditions of merit-making ceremonies, while also creating areas free from the risk factors of alcoholic beverages and creating a society safe from conflict and accidents. Furthermore, the tradition of the tenth lunar month creates an important space for the conservation and dissemination of valuable local arts and culture. The story, which conveys moral teachings through the art of puppetry and other traditional games, reflects the way of life and wisdom of the southern Thai communities. It is a soft power that helps promote Thai identity and connects culture to a sustainable creative economy.