Kings Bromley, Loykrathong Festival at the Buddhavihara Temple, 29 Nov. 2009Loy Krathong is held during the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, following a full moon. The 12th month is equivalent to November in the Western calendar. ‘Loy’ means to ‘float.’ ‘Krathong’ is a raft about a hand-span in diameter. Traditionally, it is made from a section of banana tree trunk – although modern-day versions consist of specially made bread ‘flowers’ and even polystyrene – decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. Governmental offices, corporations and other organisations also build much bigger and more elaborate rafts, and these are often judged in contests. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival. According to the writings of H.M King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from venerating the Buddha with the light emanating from the candle on the raft, the act of floating the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a Krathong will create good luck, and they do it with honour and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha. The beauty contests which accompany the festival are known as ‘Noppamas Queen Contests’. According to legend, Noppamas was a consort of the Sukothai king Loethai (14th century) and she was the first to float a decorated Krathong. The Thai tradition of Loy Krathong started in Sukothai but is now celebrated throughout Thailand and the world with the festivals of Chiang Mai and Ayuttaya being particularly well known. The Loy Krathong Festival is also associated with the start of vegetable carving in Thailand. Written by: the Buddhists monks from The Buddhavihara Temple, Kings Bromley, Staffordshire UK. Photographs: Jill Sumner
|