The large-scale charitable event was held in front of the foundation’s premises in Talat Nuea Phuket Town on Thursday afternoon (May 15), with over 2,000 relief sets handed out on-site and another 850 designated for distribution to communities in Baan Hin Luk Diao, Koh Siray, Kromaraphat and Patong.
The foundation’s grounds were filled with people from across the province, many of whom had arrived early to receive donations.
The occasion marked the traditional ‘basket-dumping’ ceremony ‒ an act of giving deeply rooted in local customs ‒ and also celebrated the birthday of Por Jun Siah Hut, a deity revered by the foundation and local community.
Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai presided over the pouring-off ceremony, which was attended by prominent local figures including Lek Tantiwongpaisan, President of the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation; Sirirak Suphanphai, Vice President of the Phuket branch of the Red Cross Society; Chalermporn Piyanarongroj, Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) at Phuket City Municipality; and Dr Wirasak Lorthongkham, Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital.
According to Mr Lek, the annual ceremony aims to honour ancestors and support the needy in accordance with long-standing cultural traditions.
“This event is one of the foundation’s main annual activities and is central to our mission of helping the poor in Phuket,” he said.
The ceremony also included offerings to wandering spirits, as part of the traditional merit-making practices observed during this time of year.