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Loi Krathong Festival
"Loi Krathong" is
traditionally performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month,
which usually falls on some day in November. The floating of a
'Krathong' - a banana-leaf cup - is intended to float away ill
fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River
Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha's
footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to
pay respect to Phra Uppakhut, one of the Lord Buddha's great disciples.
The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in
Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water,
with different unique characteristics.
This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is
proud to present the atmosphere of the royal ritual of Loi Phra
Prathip, which had been performed in the royal court since the
early Rattanakosin period. During the ritual, the king floated miniature
royal barges carrying lamps lit to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. The ritual
was followed by fireworks displays both on the banks and in the water. In
addition, this year's event is also featuring the royal rituals of Chong
Priang, Lot Chut and Loi Khom Long Nam, which were initially
intended to worship 3 Gods according to Hindu belief, but were later aimed
for paying homage to the Buddha's relics and footprint, as well.
Traditionally, the king lit the Priang (candles anointed
with butter or oxen marrow) and put them inside lanterns which would then be
hoisted onto poles. After a designated period of 15 days, the lanterns would
be taken down from the poles and floated on the water.
As for the public, people usually make banana-leaf cups to
float them onto the river although there exist some uniquely different
aspects in certain communities. For example, the
Yi
Peng Festival
in Chiang Mai, during which balloon-like 'Khom Loi' lanterns including
the 'Khom Fai' - a fire lantern - and 'Khom Khwan' - a smoke
lantern - are flown into the sky as a symbol of worship to Phrathat
Chulamani in heaven. Making a Khom Loi will need a lot of artistic skills as
well as scientific techniques, just like the ones used in making a balloon.
Tracing paper or Sa paper is used to make air bags of various shapes. It is
believed that flying a Khom Loi is like flying grief and ill fortune away
from ourselves or our home.
 In
Tak province, the Loi Krathong Sai Festival is celebrated,
which reflects the unity of the local people. Groups of people gather at the
river banks, each bringing along thousands of Krathong made from coconut
shells with dried wicks made from coconut flesh anointed with oil or ash for
their inflammable as well as durable quality. There, they sing and dance
with merriment.
The span of the Ping River that passes by the provincial city of Tak is not
deeper than one's waist, with underwater sand bars curving into different
shapes, forcing the current to meander. When the lit Krathongs are floated
onto the right current, one after another, they would meander along and make
a beautiful and twinkling curving line, or Sai in Thai, amid the darkness of
the night.
The famous Loi Krathong and Candle Festival in Sukhothai
province features a procession of offerings, including Phanom Mak - the
betel offering - and Phanom Dok Mai - the floral offering - carried by
beautiful girls, as well as banana-leaf floats accompanied by the so-called
Nang Nopphamat beauty queens.
The Phanom Mak and Phanom Dok Mai offerings are for the homage paying rite
at King Ramkhamhaeng the Great's monument in the heart of the ancient city
of Sukhothai. After that, people as well as visitors gather and float the
Krathongs together on ponds, known as Traphang, inside the ancient city. The
bright candle light from the floated Krathongs and the cool breeze of
November together lends a pleasant atmosphere for all participants.
Besides the well-known Loi Krathong Festival, there is another tradition
that is based on a similar belief but is celebrated on the full moon night
of the eleventh lunar month. Known as the Illuminated Boat
Procession, the celebration takes place in the Northeastern
provinces of Thailand that is located on the Mekong River. Illuminated boats
of approximately 10 - 12 metres long are made from banana stalks or bamboo
by villagers. The boats contain sweets, the so-called Khao Tom Mat -
stuffed fried sticky rice - and objects to be donated inside, while
decorated with flowers, incense sticks, candles, lamps and tinder outside.
At present, the boats are created into various shapes such as important
places or mythical creatures, which lend a bright and breathtaking sight
when the boats illuminated by thousands of lamps are floated onto the river.
Events Promotion Division, Tourism
Authority of Thailand
Tel. 02-2505500 Ext. 3961 Fax. 02-2537433 Email : eventinfo@tat.or.th
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