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“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) is proud to
present the atmosphere of the royal ritual of Loi Phra Prateep,
which had been performed in the royal court since the early Rattanakosin
period. During the ritual, the king floated miniature royal barges
carrying lamps lit to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. The ritual was
followed by fireworks displays both on the banks and in the water. In
addition, this year’s event is also featuring the royal rituals of
Chong Priang, Lot Chut and Loi Khom Long Nam, which
were initially intended to worship 3 Gods according to Hindu belief, but
were later aimed for paying homage to the Buddha’s relics and footprint,
as well.
Traditionally, the king lit the Priang (candles anointed with butter
or oxen marrow) and put them inside lanterns which would then be hoisted
onto poles. After a designated period of 15 days, the lanterns would be
taken down from the poles and floated onto the
river.
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 from 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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