Thailand's Loy Krathong Festival

The rainy season is ending and the rivers are quieting down - it's that time of the year again. The time when the waterways come alive with lights, time for the Loy Krathong festival. This Thai festival, which is celebrated in the 12^th Lunar month on a full moon night has a certain sense of romance about it. 'Loy' is the Thai word for 'to float' and Krathong is a small raft built out of banana trunk. The festival marks the conclusion of the monsoons. The months from August till October are when the rivers are full and the tides are high. With the arrival of the bright moon in November, Phaya Nak, the local serpent God is persuaded to stop the rains from falling, help recede the floods and bring tranquility back to the rivers.

There is significance to releasing Krathongs into the waters. It symbolizes starting your life afresh by letting go of past grudges and anger and all your problems. Just like the annual spring cleaning! The basic idea is to offer presents to the spirits in the river in order to get their pardon and for them to absolve you of all your sins. When you let go of your problems, you also usher in happiness or what the Thais call 'sanook' or the spirit of fun.

For all these reasons, great care is taken in making and decorating the Krathongs. These are just a hand-span in diameter, but are decorated beautifully. Sometimes, with just a candle and incense stick and at others with elaborately design-folded banana leaves and flowers too. There are Krathongs made of Styrofoam too, which increases their 'floatability.' There are some people who add fingernail clippings and hair as well to the Krathongs as part of their decorations.

Though it is a national festival, there is a special color to the celebrations in the Northern Province of Chiang Mai. This historical city with its century old temples and its beautiful and mystic waterfalls holds a special place in people's hearts. Locals and tourists alike come out in droves to witness the magic of the festival of lights here. The best and most liked part of the Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai are the Krathongs. Built in various sizes and shapes, these are first paraded ceremoniously down the streets and then released into the Ping River. Thousands of Krathongs floating through the maze of waterways is a true spectacle.

Tourists are also treated to the traditional Lanna song and dance routines by women dresses beautifully. Raft races also form part of the celebrations. It's not only the people but also the government which participates in these festivities. Krathong making competitions are an annual feature and these are accompanied by fireworks and general festivities.

The much awaited and much celebrated lantern parade is also part of the festivities in Chiang Mai. As part of this parade hundreds of sky lanterns are released into the air and they dot the Thai sky like giant jellyfish.

The festivities mark a new beginning in life and when life starts with a celebration, can happiness be far behind? So, come November, be sure to take part in this amazing festival of lights and happiness!

Source: http://www.tatnews.org/events/events/nov/2375.asp