A cemetery in Thailand recently garnered significant online attention for hosting an elaborate banquet intended to feed the spirits of deceased infants. On July 20, the Chag Phak Kud Temple cemetery in Rayong province held a Chinese-style banquet with 30 meticulously arranged tables, laden with food and drink, but with eerily empty chairs.
The cemetery is the final resting place for over 200 individuals, including deceased and stillborn infants. Kritthaphat Takkhet, deputy chairman of the Siam Ruamjai Foundation, which organized the event, explained that mothers of the infants typically do not hold blessing ceremonies for their children. This, he believes, leaves the babies’ souls feeling “hungry,” prompting the need for such an event.
The banquet featured a variety of Chinese delicacies, such as lime-steamed sea bass and sweet egg dumplings, along with 50kg of fresh fruits like longan and rambutan. To entertain the spirits, the famous Chinese TV series “Journey to the West” was screened, recounting the adventures of the monk Xuanzang and his disciples on their journey to India to obtain sacred Buddhist texts.
“Hopefully, these hungry infant spirits can find peace after having their fill,” one online observer commented. Another added, “Although the empty chairs make the scene look somewhat eerie, it’s a very heartwarming act of kindness.”
Kritthaphat further explained that the banquet was part of the Asalha Puja Day celebrations, a significant Buddhist festival in Thailand commemorating Buddha’s first sermon. With Buddhism being the largest religion in Thailand, practiced by 94.5 percent of the population according to the 2015 national census, such ceremonies hold profound cultural and religious significance.
Buddhists believe in reincarnation and the afterlife, with many Thais thinking that after death, the soul enters a new cycle of rebirth. However, if the soul has unfulfilled wishes, such as eating or marrying, it may linger among the living. Providing food and performing good deeds and religious activities for the dead are believed to generate positive karma, helping souls achieve a better afterlife. These practices also make the spirits feel remembered and respected, reducing their “interference” with the living.
Ceremonies for the departed are common in ethnic Chinese communities across Southeast Asia. In June, a Chinese cemetery in northeastern Thailand screened films for the dead, reflecting a shared cultural heritage that emphasizes respect and remembrance for the deceased.
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