Thai Cuisine and Lifestyle |165
Krayasat
Dessert Offerings Dedicated to Ancestors
Krayasat or a sweet made for Sat Festival (festival for offerings to the deceased), was originally made
for the festival only, not as common as nowadays. Nevertheless, the dessert is made with the intention of
the descendants to make merit dedicated to the deceased relatives.
From late rainy season to early winter in the tenth month, it is a season for the first yield of the year.
With Thai way of life is bound to nature with gratitude, there is a Sat Festival held on the 15 th day of waning
moon in the 10th lunar month, regarded as the day of making merit dedicated to the deceased. It is believed
that on that day the ghosts who have relatives and homeless ghosts will be waiting for food and merit
dedicated by the relatives through the food offerings to monks and pouring water dedicated to ancestors.
In addition to expressing gratitude and reverence for benefactors of the family, Thai people believe
that making merit with the first rice during the harvest season is considered as a great virtue, and prosperity
for the rice in the paddy fields and for bountiful agricultural crops. In the past,Thai people in the Central
and Southern regions used to stir Krayasat for monks at temples and gave it to elderly for expressing their
respect because Krayasat is regarded as excellent dessert made of fresh and selective ingredients with
strong determination.