Thailand
Boon Khao Pradap Din 2027: expected 31 August, leaf-wrapped offerings laid on the ground across Isan
At a glance
- Dates
- Next: 31 August 2027 (est.)
- Where
- Temples and villages across Isan, with no single main venue
- Getting there
- Not listed
- Cost
- No tickets and no booking
- Limits
- Shoulders and knees must be covered at temples
The 2026 edition has passed
Dates last checked: 13 October 2026
The festival
Leaf-wrapped offerings at the crossroads, for spirits no one feeds
Khao pradap din means rice that decorates the ground. The day falls on the 14th of the waning moon in the ninth Thai lunar month, when people in Isan wrap offerings in banana leaves or small krathong and lay them on the ground or hang them up.
The food is not for monks. It is for wandering spirits with no one to feed them, called sampawesi in Thai, which folk belief holds can eat only offerings, and for the family's own ancestors. Traditionally the offerings go out at night, around temples, at crossroads and in cemeteries.
A month later, in the tenth lunar month, Isan holds Bun Khao Sak, when the merit is passed on through monks instead. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists the two together as merit-making traditions unique to Isan.
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Details
Offerings go out between night and dawn, at hours set by each temple, so ask ahead and plan to leave in the dark.
The name and the custom
Boon Khao Pradap Din is a merit-making festival in Isan, northeast Thailand. Pradap din means decorating the ground: offerings are wrapped in banana leaves or small krathong and laid on the ground or hung from branches.
Dates and the lunar calendar
The date is the 14th day of the waning moon in the ninth Thai lunar month, so it moves every year, usually between late August and mid-September. Do not reuse one year's Western date for the next.
Who the offerings are for
They are mainly for wandering spirits with no one to feed them, which folk belief holds can eat only offerings, so the food goes straight onto the ground rather than through monks. The family's ancestors receive merit too.
Bun Khao Sak in the tenth lunar month works differently: the food goes to monks, and the merit passes on to the dead.
Where it happens
Temples and villages across Isan run it themselves, so there is no single main venue and no shared programme. Pick one place, stay nearby, and confirm the timing with the temple when you arrive.
When the offerings go out
Offerings are traditionally laid out at night or before dawn, so expect to set out in the dark. It is a rite for the dead, not a show, and watching means standing quietly throughout.
Timing, where to stay and cost
Timing: arrive before dawn, after checking the temple's timing the day before.
Where to stay: stay close to the temple or village you plan to visit so you do not travel far in the dark, and check the route the night before.
Cost: there are no tickets and no booking is needed.
Bamboo garlands in Ban Kutwa, Kalasin
For the handmade offerings of these Isan festivals, Ban Kutwa Phu Thai Cultural Village in Kuchinarai district, Kalasin, is a learning centre for Malai Mai Phai bamboo garlands. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, villagers hang fruit, snacks and banknotes on the garlands as offerings to monks during Boon Khao Pradap Din and Bun Khao Sak.
Etiquette and what to wear
Keep quiet and tread softly. The leaf parcels on the ground are offerings, so do not step on, move or take them.
Check that a photo will not disturb anyone making merit, and skip the flash. Cover shoulders and knees inside the temple.
Good to know
- Location
- Temples and villages across Isan, in northeast Thailand, each hold their own. There is no single main venue
- Custom
- Offerings go into banana-leaf parcels or small krathong and are laid on the ground or hung up, traditionally at night
- Who the food is for
- Ancestors, and wandering spirits with no one to feed them, believed to be able to eat only offerings
- Related festival
- Bun Khao Sak follows in the tenth lunar month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists the two together as merit-making traditions unique to Isan
- Cost and booking
- A temple and village merit-making custom with no tickets and no booking
FAQ
4
Why is the food placed on the ground?
The offerings are for ancestors and for wandering spirits with no one to feed them, which folk belief holds can eat only offerings. They are laid on the ground or hung up, often at crossroads and cemeteries.
Where can you see Boon Khao Pradap Din?
At temples and villages all over Isan, with no fixed main venue. Pick a place, then ask the local temple about timing for the day.
Is it fine to go without an offering?
Yes. It is a temple and village merit-making custom with no tickets, and onlookers can come empty-handed as long as they stay quiet.
How is it different from Bun Khao Sak?
Boon Khao Pradap Din falls in the ninth lunar month, and the food goes straight onto the ground for the spirits. Bun Khao Sak falls in the tenth month, and the merit is passed on through monks. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists both as Isan merit-making traditions.
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