Loy Kra Thong Festival

Loy Kra Thong Festival

November full moon shine, Loy kra thong Loy kra thong
And the water is high In the gold river and the Klong
Loy Loy Krathong , Loy Loy Krathong, Loykrathong is here
And everybody’s full of cheer
We’re together at the Klong, Each one floats his Krathong
in the river and we pray , We can see a better day
(Loy Kra Thong’s song - English Translation)

Loy Kra Thong Festival is the one of the most beautiful festivals that takes place in Thailand. Many foreigners are interested in this festival because it’s very typical. There are many interesting things to do in Loi Kra Tong Festival.

History of Loy Kra Thong
Loy Kra Thong Festival Day is an important festival of Thailand has come a long history. Thailand's Loy Kra Thong Festival is a tradition that succeeds for a long time.
It’s celebrated annually on the Full-Moon Day in November of the Twelfth Lunar Month. In fact, the festival is of Brahmin origin in which people offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. Some believe that the evidence is itself worship Buddha at river. And some evidence that they worship a Buddhist saint.
For Thailand, Loy Kra Thong Festival tradition that was believed to have been started the Sukhothai. In the reign of the king Ramkhamhaeng. And then Kra Thong was first created by Tao Sri Chulalak (Queen Nang Noppamas) in Sukothai. That's a sign indicating that Loy Kra Thong is on its way. In Thai Loy means to float and Kra Thong means a circular floating object with decoration of banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense sticks.

Importance and purpose
Loy Kra Thong Festival day is another one that is important and valuable for Thailand. There are many purposes for Loy Kra Thong festival ,for example; many Thai people believe that Loy Kra Thong is to apologize and thank for the Goddess of Water (Pra Mae Khong Kha river) and bring good luck, and they do it to honor, also refers to flying away misfortune and bad things in the past, and also to conserve Thai tradition culture too.
Activities during Loy Kra Thong Festival Day
There are may activities on the Loy Kra Thong Festival has many activities, such as, contests of Kra Thong-making and Nang Noppamas beauty pageants, local games, performances, fireworks, and a beautiful parade. Moreover, this festival is good for strengthening relationship in family and friends bringing people in the community together.
How to make Kra Thong and Materials
Materials for making Kra Thong are banana leaves, pin or small nails, banana stalk, petals ,some flowers, a candle and incense sticks.
Let’s start making Kra Thong ;
1. Cut banana leaves to approx. 1.5” wide and 6” long
2. Fold 3 petals according the illustrated picture
3. Arranged as terraced lines according to the illustrated picture as count as 1 level.
4. Attach around the Kra Thong base which is the sliced banana stalk of approx. 1.5-2” thick. The number of petals shall be more or less depending on the size of its base
5. Decorate with flowers, joss sticks and candle.
Folding of petal in this pattern can be used jointly with other folding patterns in the same piece as desirable or individual idea. (Reference ;http://gotoknow.org/blog/eng0001/305956)

When you already have your Kra Thong ,you can bring your Kra Thong float at the river or on the water. In present Kra Thong comes in many types of materials, such as from bread, cassava, foam, paper, and so on. In the past, people liked to make Kra Thong from banana tree. Now we have to save the world, we can make Kra Thong from natural material that do not damage the environment.

Special Loi Kra Thong Festival in the North of Thailand
Yi Peng festival is a special Loi Kra Thong Festival in the North of Thailand especially in Chiang-mai. province. There is Khom Loy or floating lanterns into sky.There it is the traditional belief that misfortune and bad luck will fly away with the floating lanterns.
On the night of Loy Kra Thong Festival it is a romantic and happy night, Loy Kra Thong’s song is played every place. We leave bad things in the last year to the river and start our life in the New Year which should be better than last year. Everybody has fun when the moonlight sparks on the nighttime sky throws on the water mirror reflects the shadow moon.
It’s a beautiful and wonderful night

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513080643-7 Nakarin PoonPhol
513081005-4 Jidapa Watchaponpong