This is a very big ceremony carried out to celebrate the completion of a construction, and is often performed during this month as the villagers are free from their work in the fields. It could be for a large building or another type of construction such as a school or a bridge. In a Wat, this could be the construction of an ordination hall or any other building in the temple grounds.
A Poi Luang festival is a great event, and therefore the Wat and the village need to cooperate, and they may be joined by monks from other Wats and people from other villages who will come bringing offerings for the festival. The Wat that will hold the Poi Luang has to plan ahead for several months. Meetings have to be called with the villagers, and this is done by the beating of a drum in the Wat to summon all the villagers. There is a saying referring to this activity: ‘To call for a meeting the drum is beaten until the surface of the drum is broken’.
In the past, at least three days were needed to hold a Poi Luang festival. The first day was the day when the villagers would carry in a procession all the offerings to the Wat. The second and third day were the days the other Wats would bring their offerings to the village. Some of the processions could depict stories of the lives of the Buddha, which would be much enjoyed by the audience. Each day would be filled with music and dance, bringing joy to all the participants. If the celebration was for a building within the Wat compound, one more day would be needed to hold a ceremony called the Buat Phra Chao, to consecrate a new Buddha image. Sermons and chanting would be carried out throughout the night.