Loy Krathong

Testing out a New Video Serice with this old slideshow that I had made of photos I took at the Loy Krathong festival back in Nov 2005.

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One of the neat things that is done here, in addition to the traditional float, is the the floating of lanterns that fly up into the air. It is pretty awe-inspiring to see the night sky lit up with hundreds of these flying lanterns, a symbolic act of people purging themselves of their sins and impurities.

Here is an Excerpt from Wikipedia:

"Loy Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, in the western calendar this usually falls into November.

“Loi” means “to float”. “Krathong” is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions often use styrofoam), 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 organizations 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...

... the act of floating away 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 to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae."