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Su khwan ceremony (spirit blessing)
พิธีสู่ขวัญ
People hold a su khwan to call the khwan, a person's life essence, back after a fright, an illness or a long journey.
Today's price ฿3,000
What you get
- Su khwan ceremony (spirit blessing)฿3,000We find a mo khwan (who leads the rite) and arrange the su khwan ceremony (a spirit blessing), with a translator. The bai si tray (flowers for the rite), offerings and the mo khwan's khan khru (gift to the teacher) are charged at the price we pay.
How it goes
- We find a mo khwan, the person who calls the khwan.Hongdam · Before the day
- We arrange the ceremony. The bai si tray, the offerings and the mo khwan's khan khru, his offering to his teachers, are paid at cost.Hongdam · Before the day
- A translator tells you what is said.A translator · At the ceremony
- The mo khwan calls the khwan and ties white thread on your wrists.The mo khwan · 10 to 15 minutes
- We find a mo khwan, the person who calls the khwan.Hongdam · Before the day
- We arrange the ceremony. The bai si tray, the offerings and the mo khwan's khan khru, his offering to his teachers, are paid at cost.Hongdam · Before the day
- A translator tells you what is said.A translator · At the ceremony
- The mo khwan calls the khwan and ties white thread on your wrists.The mo khwan · 10 to 15 minutes
Useful facts
- Khwan is the life essence a person is born with, and Lanna counts 32. A fright, an illness, a fall or a long journey can make it wander. The khwan rite calls it back. motdang.net
- A mo khwan calls the khwan: usually an older man who was ordained as a monk and left the robe. He reads the call over the finished tray, then ties white cotton thread on the wrists, left first. The thread stays on for about 3 days, until it greys. motdang.net
- The northern khwan tray, khan bai si, is a silver or lacquer bowl on a footed stand. It holds tiers of banana leaf folded into points, a ball of steamed sticky rice, a peeled boiled egg, a banana, flowers, incense, candles and white cotton thread for the wrists. motdang.net
- A 2023 article in the Journal of Humanities of Naresuan University defines su khwan as calling the khwan back into the patient's body. It says northern and Isan Thai people use the rite to care for, prevent and treat illness of body and mind. so03.tci-thaijo.org
- Mot Dang's page gives a rule for the thread: tie the left hand, the khwan comes; tie the right hand, the khwan stays. The thread is untied, not cut. motdang.net
What others charge
| Package from a Fastwork seller who organises ordination events: a 5-tier bai si, 2 mo khwan and an adapted pi phat ensemble, delivered in 30 days; the listing's own starting price is also shown | ฿45,000 for the package; ฿6,500 starting price fastwork.co |
|---|---|
| A Fastwork freelancer's listing that offers bai si and banana-leaf work among other jobs | Starting price ฿900 fastwork.co |
| Hongdam · Su khwan ceremony (spirit blessing) | ฿3,000 |
What people ask
What happens at the ceremony?
Mot Dang's page says the mo khwan first honours his teachers. He then chants the call with a little Pali, names the places each khwan may have wandered and asks them to return. Guests sit before the tray with their palms joined. The call takes 10 to 15 minutes. motdang.net
How long does the thread stay on?
Mot Dang's page says about 3 days, until the thread greys. It says the thread is untied rather than cut. motdang.net
What does a ceremony cost?
A Fastwork seller who organises ordination events lists a package at ฿45,000: a 5-tier bai si, 2 mo khwan and an adapted pi phat ensemble, delivered in 30 days. The same listing shows a starting price of ฿6,500. fastwork.co
Is a bai si part of a northern Thai wedding?
TAT News describes the northern style: after the wedding, both parties host a 'Bai Sri' ritual in which the bride's and groom's hands are tied. Coins are placed in the 'Bai Sri' bowls for prosperity. tatnews.org
Is the Lao baci a similar ceremony?
The Laotian Times, reprinted by The Star on 12 May 2023, describes the baci as a ritual Lao people have practised for thousands of years. It gives the name sou khuan, meaning calling of the soul, and says white cotton strings are tied on wrists while blessings are prayed. thestar.com.my
Also from Hongdam
Lanna (northern Thai) wedding ceremony
฿25,000
Monks, a khwan rite (a spirit blessing), Lanna dress and the schedule.
Lanna (northern Thai) honeymoon
Price on request
Two and a half days in Chiang Rai, with a su khwan (spirit blessing) for two.
House or shop blessing
฿8,000
Nine monks invited, the Thai Buddhist ceremony arranged, a translator for you.
Spirit house (small shrine) installed
฿3,000
Chosen with you, placed and blessed; house and ceremony charged at the price we pay.
Class or workshop, with a translator
฿1,500
Muay thai (Thai boxing), cooking, silver-making or weaving, booked for up to 4 people.
Interpreter
from ฿400
By phone or video, or with you in Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai at an immigration office, hospital or bank.
Elsewhere
Small print
Prices here move with demand: when most of a month's places are taken, the price goes up a step; when few are, it comes down a step.
Sources read 2026-11-04.