PHI TA KHON

A mixture of the sacred and the profane, this amazing carnival is a modern version of the fertility cult. It takes place mainly around Wat Pon Chai in the village of Dan Sai, in the Isaan region, to celebrate Buddha. For several days, the streets of the city are filled with processions and parades, men are dressed as ghosts for the youngest, as ladyboys for the oldest, and some even cover themselves with mud. The exact date varies each year but is always between March and July.