THE CONTINUITY OF ETHNIC TAI SONG DAM RITUALS AMID SOCIAL CHANGE : A CASE STUDY OF NAENWA VILLAGE, KONG KRAILAT DISTRICT, SUKHOTHAI PROVINCE BETWEEN 1997–2017

Abstract

         This research article has two objectives: (1) to examine the ethnic Tai Song Dam rituals that have persisted in Noen Wa Village, Kong Krailat District, Sukhothai Province, within the context of social change between 1997 and 2017, and (2) to investigate the factors influencing the continuity of these ritual practices. Five key informants were selected through purposive sampling, consisting of a community leader, a ritual practitioner, a government representative, a local historian, and a youth representative. The research instruments included in-depth interviews conducted using the oral history method, and the findings were presented through analytical description.

          The results reveal that between 1997 and 2017, the ritual practices of the Tai Song Dam community in Noen Wa Village underwent significant social changes. Labor migration to urban areas initially led to a decline in ritual successors. Following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, many migrants returned to the village but brought with them urban lifestyles that distanced them from traditional beliefs. By the late 2000s, technological development and the expanding education system further shifted youth interests toward new activities. Nevertheless, five major rituals continued through adaptive processes: (1) the Sen Huean ritual, (2) the Pad Tong ritual, (3) funeral rituals, (4) wedding rituals, and (5) the house-blessing ritual. Two main factors contribute to the persistence of these ritual practices. Internal factors include the transmission of beliefs and values through the kinship system, shared responsibilities toward ancestral spirits, the roles of ritual practitioners, and the adaptation of ritual details to fit contemporary contexts. External factors include support from the education system and government agencies, technological influences, economic conditions, and youth participation in networks promoting the preservation of Tai Song Dam culture.