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สาขาวรรณกรรมพื้
นบ้
าน
มรดกภู
มิ
ปั
ญญาทางวั
ฒนธรรม
74
Tham Khwan Khao
ritual text
or the ritual text
for calling the soul of the Rice Goddess is a verse sung
during the rice growers’ ritual for restoring the soul of
the Rice Goddess. It is called differently in different
regions-- in the northern region, “Kham Hong Khwan
Khao” or “Kham Riak Khwan Khao”; in the northeastern
region,“Kham Su Khwan Khao”; in the central and
southern regions, “Bot Tham Khwan Khao”. Although
the rice growers in each region perform the rite at
different times, they tend to perform the rite either when
the rice plants are producing seeds or after harvesting
rice and inviting the grains to store in the rice barns.
There are similarities and differences in the
“Bot Tham Khwan Khao” from different regions.
Most regions use similar texts in two parts of the rite
– “the inviting of the Khwan” or “the calling of the
Khwan” part which aims at propitiating Mae Phosop
(the Goddess of Rice) and the “Kho Phon” – asking for
the blessings part which aims at invoking or praying to
her for blessing. These parts reflect the rice growers’
wish for the Goddess to bestow them what they need.
The different details in some regions possibly result
from things that are particular to each locality - such
as the local rice varieties or the different local legends
regarding rice or the Rice Goddess.
“Bot Tham Khwan Khao” has long maintained
its relevance to the lifestyle of the Thai rice growers.
It reflects the rice growers’ respect for nature and
Tham Khwan Khao Ritual Text
particularly for rice, which is crucial to their livelihood.
The text serves as a repository of folk wisdom in four
domains. It records the knowledge about the names
or the types of rice in each locality, how to perform
the rite for calling the soul of rice, the rice growers’
belief, and the rice farming method and know-how.
The rite is one mechanism for the rice growers to
calm their worry and stress. Rice farming requires heavy
investments of labor and money and the rice growers
feel insecure of the result. The rite boosts the rice
growers’ morale. Therefore, many texts for the rite
reflect the rice growers’ expectation - such as the
invocation of the Rice Goddess - and all texts for the rite
speak of the rice growers’ wish for a bountiful harvest.
“Bot Tham Khwan Khao” i s gradual ly
disappearing from the Thai society. Rice growers
in various regions perform the rite less and
less as they are working hard to produce three
harvests per year and consequently have less time
to perform the rite. Without the rite, the text has
no place and will soon be forgotten and lost.
Presently, several agencies - both at national
and regional levels have become aware of the
importance of the text and consequently are trying
to revive and preserve the rite. The rite and its
demonstrations have been organized on various
occasions to revive it as its popularity is waning.