“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) has
joint with Educational Institution and Thai Baot Association
to present the Electric Float Procession from Taksin
Bridge to Rama VIII Bridge and the 12 lighten up buildings
and historical sites along Chao Praya River during
Loi Krathong Festival.
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 fro
m 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. |
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