Famed festival of lights to illuminate the nation

Famed festival of lights to illuminate the nation

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Famed festival of lights to illuminate the nation
Loy yipeng in Chiang Mai. (Photo: Sarot Meksophawannakul)

The Full Moon of the 12th lunar month marks Loy Krathong festival. This year, the celebration will be organised nationwide on Oct 31.

However, some provinces have started the celebrations earlier. Bangkok, for example, launched the River Festival Thailand 2020 with activities to promote tourism along the Chao Phraya River since mid-October. In addition, Sukhothai will launch a Loy Krathong and Candle festival for a period of 10 days starting on Oct 23.

Loy Krathong celebrates a tradition in which people float krathong, containers adorned with flowers, on waterways to ask for forgiveness from Ganga (the goddess of the river) for their wrongdoings that may have harmed the water. Moreover, some people also ask the goddess to carry away their bad fortune and ask for blessings.

In Bangkok, the main floating activities of the "River Festival Thailand" will be organised at five popular places including Tha Maharaj, Lhong 1919, Sooksiam @ IconSiam, Asiatique The Riverfront and Yodpiman River Walk. The events will also feature food and drink outlets, DIY krathong workshops and live music.

A free shuttle boat ride will also be provided. Visit facebook.com/riverfestivalthailand.

Krathong sai in Tak. (Photo: Karnjana Ayuwatanachai)

In Sukhothai, the Loy Krathong and Candle Festival will be hosted at Sukhothai Historical Park. There will be performances, a food fair, beauty pageants, a krathong contest and muay Thai flights and as well as a parade. The highlight is the light and sound show which will take place around 10.30pm every day between Oct 23 and Nov 1. Visit facebook.com/SukhothaiLoiKrathongFestival for more details.

In Chiang Mai, locals have a unique way of celebrating the festival, which they refer to as a celebration of the Chiang Mai Yee Peng Festival where they float krathong in the Ping River and in the city moat as well release lanterns called khom loi to worship Chulamanee Pagoda in heaven. Thousands of lanterns will be launched between Oct 31 and Nov 1.

Another remarkable festival will be organised at the Ayutthaya Historical Park between Oct 29 and Oct 31. In Tak, people will celebrate the festival on the night of Oct 31 by releasing krathong sai, when thousands of small krathong are released simultaneously. The floats are made of coconut shells containing a lit candle and flowers. The event will be organised on the banks of the Ping River near Saphan Somphot Krung Rattanakosin Song Roi Pi bridge in Muang district.

In Samut Songkhram, the festival will be organised only on the Full Moon night of Oct 31. About 200,000 floats will be released into Mae Klong River at Wat Pummarin Kudi Thong. The floats will look simple as they will be made of a piece of the outer layer of a banana stalk containing flowers and an incense stick.

For more information, call the Tourism Authority of Thailand at 1672.

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