Naga Baisri: Finding Meaning in the Sacred and Secular Rituals of Kham Chanod.

This qualitative investigation examines the layers of meaning associated with the baisri, a traditional Buddhist sacrificial offering. Documentary review and field research was conducted with local people, monks, pilgrims and tourists in Kham Chanod, the spiritual home of the legendary Naga in Northeastern Thailand. The findings reveal that the baisri culture is flourishing in this remote corner of Thailand owing to a resurgence in the popularity of the site following the success of a Thai movie about the Naga. Huge quantities of traditional baisri are now traded in the region, but the original religious meanings of the object continue. Artisans retain the original religious symbolism of the baisri, and visitors value the spiritual meaning of the object. However, a new secular function of the object has emerged with its newfound economic importance to the local community. This article discussed that dichotomy between the secular and the sacred through the lens of the baisri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]