LOI KRATHONG IS ONE OF THAILAND'S MOST FAMOUS FESTIVALS WITH SONGKRAN OR THE WATER SPLASHING FESTIVAL THE OTHER. THIS YEAR IT OFFICIALLY STARTS TODAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2012
Apple, Kee Hua Chee, the Governor of TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand), Vickie Yong, Ho Ai Ling and Danny Chong
Kee Hua Chee holding his first ever krathong in all his 38 years of living
Loi krathong is the floating of small vessels made of banana stems or leaves elaborately folded and filled with flowers, food, sweets, candle and joss sticks. These are set afloat during the full moon of the last month of the Thai New Year which usually falls in November and today 28 November is the actual day of Loi Krathong!
I am now in Nakorn Ratchasima or Korat in Thailand to celebrate Loi Krathong.
Kee Hua Chee holding his first krathong
Kee Hua Chee with 20 representatives from 20 nations waiting for the cue to float the krathong
And off they go! In the swimming pool of The Piano hotel since there were no nearby river, lake or drain!
Everyone helped the krathong's passage through the water by creating waves!
This was the furthest our krathong sailed but I hope my wish went further than this!
Kee Hua Chee saying a prayer for his krathong to carry to Buddha, Kuan Yin and Phra Mea Khongkha the Goddess of Water
Kee Hua Chee and Miss Loi Krathong
2 Miss Loi Krathongs!
Kee Hua Chee with 2 Thai beauties
3 beauties
The colourful and exotic krathongs waiting to be floated
Only the Thais could create such transient works of art!
There should be a Mr Loi Krathong too and Dullapah Jaroenjitt would surely win
Tommy aka Dullapah Jaroenjitt is the secretary to the Deputy Governor of TAT
'Loi' means to 'float' and 'krathong' refers to the vessels that originated during the Sukothai period of the 13th century. The wife of King Ramakhamheng the Great was the first to create a small vessel of banana leaves and to float it on a river by the palace. She told the King it was to
wash away the sins, ill deeds and bad things done during the last 11 months so as to start the new year on a clean slate. She added she saw this in her dream.
King Ramakhamheng was so charmed with this concept he decreed this should be adhered to every year henceforth.
By the time of the Ayathuyya period it became associated with Buddha and the Naga King who protected the Buddha from a violent storm by opening his hood and sheltering the then Gautama Siddartha who was on the verge of Enlightenment and Mara the Evil Incarnate was trying to prevent him. For once Gautama Siddartha became enlightened and a Buddha, Mara knew his days were numbered and his evil powers would be diminished.
Many Thais also associate Loi Krathong with the river goddess who controlled the life giving waters. So Loi Krathong is both a tribute to Buddha and Phra Mea Khongkha the Goddess of Water.
The lighting of the candle and letting it go symbolises the floating away of grudges, defilements, anger, frustrations and envy so as to start on a clean slate.
Some Thais even cut their finger nails or trimmed their hair and place them on the krathong so as to release the 'bad parts' of themselves, leaving behind their good, God-given parts!
At one stage in recent times, styrofoam was used as a base. Styrofoam is much cheaper than banana stems and leaves are are practically unsinkable...alas they are also unperishable! Styrofoam takes decades if not forever to disintegrate so now, only banana leaves or bread or anything organic are used. After a few days, they disintegrate and become food for the fish.
Of course beauty contests are a must and the winners are called Nopamat Queens in honour of Queen Nopamat who made the first krathong in the 13th century.
This is my first Loi Krathong festival and at The Piano Hotel last night, I was asked to represent Malaysia as I was the best dressed, best looking and best behaved.
So I was given a flower filled krathong which I held for the first time in all my 38 years of living. Together with 20 other representatives from 20 countries, we waited for the cue and floated our krathong simulatneously.
As The Piano Hotel is nowhere a river, canal, lake, stream, sea or even a large monsoon drain, we made do with the hotel's swimming pool! Our krathong managed to move away from us but we helped by pushing and stirring the water!
Since our krathong could never find their way to Menam Chao Phraya and on into the Gulf of Siam, I wonder if my wish would come true. Oh well, if it partially comes true, that is good enough. One must not be too greedy though I am told 'greed is good' or was it 'don't heed greed as you don't need the heat so beat it'!
The last I saw my krathong with its pink central flower, it was still floating aimlessly in the swimming pool.
The party at The Piano hotel was sponsored by TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) which also oganised the grand launch of Loi Krathong Festival on 24 November at Asiatique in Bangkok which I also attended as I arrived in the morning on Thai International at 9am.
It rained Persian pussies and French poodles as in cats and dogs these last few days but due to my prayers to Buddha, Kuan Yin and Phra Mea Khongkha, the rain never appeared in the evenings! All due to me and my petitions to Buddha!
In fact it was raining heavily around 6 pm when I tried taking a taxi to Asiatique. The first driver demanded 300 baht and the second also. Since I was in a hurry, I offered 200 baht and arrived just to see the last drops of rain vanishing. The rain stopped in time just as I finished dinner at Kodang Talay restaurant! Perfect timing due to my petitions to Buddha!
Asiatique is by the bank of Menam Chao Phraya so it was very authentic.
Tommy aka Dullapah Jaroenjitt and Kee Hua Chee giving the victory sign
Mr Handsome and Mr Gorgeous
Tommy, Kee Hua Chee and Chris from Down Under
Apple and directors of TAT
Cheers to TAT!
Thai traditional costumes at The Piano Hotel in Pak Chong in Korat or Nakon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand
BELOW ARE TAKEN AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF LOI KRATHONG FESTIVAL 2012 AT ASIATIQUE RIVERFRONT NIGHT BAZAAR IN BANGKOK
The Loi Krathong Festival launch at Asiatique in Bangkok
From right, Kee Hua Chee, Danny Chong, Vickie Yong, Ho Ai Ling and Apple
Kee Hua Chee and Apple aka Sudaporn Worapon
Kee Hua Chee and Sudaporn Worapon
Kee Hua Chee and Ho Ai Ling
No comments:
Post a Comment