Thailands Second Death Fest Promotes Mortality Discussions

NONTHABURI, Thailand — Thailand's second annual Death Fest drew visitors to Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on Friday, offering a blend of spiritual guidance and practical resources to encourage open discussions about mortality in a culture deeply influenced by Buddhist teachings.

The three-day event addresses one of Buddhism's core principles: the inevitability of life's sufferings, including birth, old age, sickness and death. Organizers aimed to make the topic less taboo by gathering experts from health care, financial planning, palliative care, funeral services and innovative memorial practices. Sessions emphasized not only end-of-life preparations but also strategies for enhancing quality of life in the present.

Sangduan Ngamvinijaroon, who attended with her mother, shared how the fair resonated with her personal experiences. After more than two decades caring for family members afflicted by illnesses such as her husband's stroke and relatives' cancer, she has witnessed several deaths up close. "Death used to be a difficult subject for her family," she said, but now she feels more comfortable addressing it. She appreciated the event's broader focus: "It's not just about...