In remote villages across Thailand, a mysterious ceremony echoes through the mountains, forests, and rice fields-a ritual where spirits are summoned, misfortune is swept away, and entire communities gather to reclaim harmony from unseen forces. Ban Phi: Village Exorcism Ceremonies is a rare ethnographic exploration of this powerful spiritual practice, offering readers a deeply immersive journey into one of Southeast Asia's most enduring and culturally rich traditions.

Often misunderstood as mere superstition or ghost-chasing, Ban Phi rituals reveal a deeply rooted system of belief-one that merges animism, ancestral reverence, and local cosmologies into a collective act of healing. Performed in times of illness, disaster, or spiritual imbalance, these village exorcism ceremonies are not private affairs but communal gatherings where every drumbeat, broom sweep, and chant carries centuries of spiritual knowledge. Through detailed descriptions, case studies, and community testimony, this book presents the Ban Phi as both a practical and symbolic defense against the invisible forces believed to shape human destiny.

This twelfth volume in the Sacred Thai: Ghosts, Beliefs, and Rituals in Thai Culture series focuses on the intersection of spirituality, social cohesion, and cultural preservation. Readers will discover how rural Thai communities harness traditional tools-like fire, sound, and sacred herbs-to protect themselves from malevolent spirits and restore inner balance. Whether it's through sweeping rituals, bonfires lit with driftwood, or the thunderous echo of handmade drums, these exorcism rites function as vital expressions of collective resilience and identity.

The book spans geographical and cultural diversity, from forest-dwelling northern highlanders to coastal fishing communities in the south. Each village adapts the Ban Phi to its environment, with unique symbols and ceremonial forms. Drawing from field interviews, historical records, and oral storytelling, author Montree Sandee paints a vivid picture of how these rituals continue to thrive despite modernity's pressures. Rather than fading into obscurity, the Ban Phi has evolved-now practiced in urban homes, community centers, and even virtual spaces-while still holding fast to its original purpose: to protect, to heal, and to unite.

Scholars, cultural enthusiasts, and general readers alike will find this book an illuminating resource on Thai folk spirituality, ritual studies, and Southeast Asian anthropology. With themes aligned with Body, Mind & Spirit / Supernatural, Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, and Folklore & Mythology, the book also appeals to those interested in ritual healing, cross-cultural spiritual practices, and the psychological dimension of traditional beliefs. But beyond academic value, this is a book for anyone curious about how small communities find strength through shared ritual, and how ancient practices still offer meaning in today's rapidly shifting world.

Montree Sandee, cultural researcher and author of Laying the Dead, Calling the Soul, and Feeding the Dead, once again delivers a carefully documented yet deeply human account of spiritual life in Thailand. Through Ban Phi: Village Exorcism Ceremonies, he invites readers to listen-not only to chants and drums, but to the quiet resilience of tradition.

In a global age where many seek meaning beyond the material, this book reminds us that healing doesn't always come from medicine alone. Sometimes, it begins with a broom in hand, a fire in the center of the village, and a community chanting into the night.