CULTURAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE SUT SUEA SUT PHA RITUAL: A CASE STUDY OF THE TAI PHUAN IN NAKHON NAYOK PROVINCE

Abstract

This research, titled Cultural Communication through the Sut Suea Sut Pha Ritual: A Case Study of the Tai Phuan in Nakhon Nayok Province, examines the Sut Suea Sut Pha ritual as a process of cultural communication, analyzes the elements of ritual communication, and explains the roles and functions of this ritual within the Tai Phuan community. The study employs a qualitative research methodology, with data collected through documentary research, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation in Pak Phli District, Nakhon Nayok Province.

The findings reveal that the Sut Suea Sut Pha ritual is an important ceremonial practice reflecting the Tai Phuan belief system, which integrates Buddhism, ancestor worship, and local sacred beliefs. The ritual demonstrates all elements of the communication process, including sender, message, channel, and receiver. Communication in the ritual is conveyed not only through language but also through ritual actions, ceremonial objects, material symbols, time, and sacred space, all functioning as cultural signs collectively understood by community members. Furthermore, the Sut Suea Sut Pha ritual serves as a mediating channel connecting humans, sacred beings, and ancestors, and provides a space for transmitting beliefs, cultural values, and Tai Phuan identity through the participation of families and the community. The ritual particularly emphasizes values of gratitude, kinship systems, and communal solidarity, and plays a significant role in fostering psychological stability among community members during the transitional period of the traditional New Year celebrated during the Songkran festival.