Loy Krathong Festival
16 November 2005
Loy Krathong Day is one of the most popular festivals of Thailand celebrated annually on the Full-Moon Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month. It takes place at a time when the weather is fine as the rainy season is over and there is a high water level all over the country.
"Loy" means "to float" and a "Krathong" is a lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves. The Krathong usually contains a candle, three joss-sticks, some flowers and coins. In fact, the festival is of Brahmin origin in which people offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. Thus, by moonlight, people light the candles and joss-sticks, make a wish and launch their Krathongs on canals, rivers or even small ponds. It is believed that the Krathongs carry away sins and bad luck, and the wishes that have been made for the new year due to start. Indeed, it is the time to be joyful and happy as the sufferings are floated away.
The festival starts in the evening when there is a full moon in the sky. People of all walks of life carry their Krathongs to the nearby rivers. After lighting candles and joss-sticks and making a wish, they gently place the Krathongs on the water and let them drift away till they go out of sight.
A Beauty Queen Contest is an important part of the festival and for this occasion it is called "The Noppamas Queen Contest". Noppamas is a legendary figure from the Sukhothai period. Old documents refer to her as the chief royal consort of a Sukhothai Kng named "Lithai". Noppamas was said to have made the first decorated Krathong to float in the river on the occasion.
I love
this festival so dearly since my life is so related to this festival.
Something years ago I was born on Loy Krathong day. No wonder, why I like
looking at and take photos of the moon very much... But I've never taken a good
one yet...then 2-3 months ago someone has taken this photo and send to me...
It's Arab moon. This moon reminds me of Arabian Nights Stories.
Photo by: Jeremy
(Thank you very very much, It's so wuvlee)
Let's get back to Loy Krathong Festival... There are some photos from the other year before that I have my friend... uncle Jon, my brother, nephews and niece come over to my house and we made Krathongs to float behind my house
 Making Krathongs Since I was born on Loy Krathong Day. Mum always says...She almost put me in a Krathong and floated me away the day I was born Mum is such a sweetest lady in the world, isn't she? :)) |
 Jon, Wai, Fah Wai likes Jon quite a bit since both of them act at Wai's age
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 Wat & Auntie Aeh & Wai Wat is Wai's brother But I'm Wai's God Mother Both of them are sons of my relative
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Auntie Aeh & Fah Fah is my niece She is a daughter of my relative but different parents from Wat & Wait
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 My Krathong I like to make a Krathong myself. It's much more expensive than buy some that already made and sell in the street. But I feel like I'm a better person if I make it myself. :)))
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 Another Krathong This one I made for my parents.
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 Look !!! Are you ready now?
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Fah, Fluck, Jon and Wai Jon always come to my house because he lives near me and I always invited him to join me in the past before. My brother (Fluck), my nephews (Wai & Wat) and niece (Fah) like to join me too.
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 Making a wish Do you want to know my wish?
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 Ready to go All systems are go!!!
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 Float Away We have 3 boats at our house , Last year I went on a boat with my family to float the Krathong. But not this year. |
Hey!!! Make sure that no one's going with the Krathongs.
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All on one
Jon is having a big hard time to give us a piggy back. His face shows his strength.
Oh!!! Uncle Jon... you can do it. go...go...go
Wai & Fah
Wai wants to be super hero.
Aeh and her Krathong
This year, 2005 I have no idea what am I going to do on Loy Krathong day but would love to go and join festival then I can take loads of photos to show on this page for more.
I hope you find Loy Krathong Festival interesting!
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