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| Make a wish | Put it on water | Launch the Krathong |
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The feast "LOY KRATHONG" (ลอยกระทง) is a religious event that happens every year on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (first full moon day of November). All Thai people buy or make a "KRATHONG". It is made of styrofoam ( bad choise as it is not biodegradable) surrounded by banana leaves, with flowers and a candle at the middle. Then in the evening, Thai people go to places where there is a river, a pound to launch their "KRATHONG". In ancient times, this ceremony was to excuse one-self to the spirit of the river and to let float one's sins away. Little boys are allowed to take the coin when the candle of the krathong is lit off.
An old Thai proverb says that "When a boy and a girl are launching a KRATHONG together they will be lovers this life or next life".
According to an another Thai custom, people must keep their eyes on their "KRATHONG" until it drifted out of sight as there is a belief that the longer the candle is burning, the better the next year will be.
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| Loy Krathong night |
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Nobody grabs the "KRATHONG" except little children that are allowed to take the coins when the candle is blown out.
On the night of "LOY KRATHONG", it is time to send a "KRATONG". People, who are not skilled enough to make it, can buy it in many small shops. Then they go to a river, a pound or even hotel swimming pools in Bangkok. Even in places where there is no river, Thai people make two small swimming pools linked with tubes in order that the krathong floats from one swimming pool to the other. Then Thai people lit the candle, insert a "one Baht coin", make a wish and let their krathong float.
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| Miss Loy Krathong contest |
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The first Loy Krathong festival in Thailand took place in the former capital of Sukhothai and was introduced by a woman called "NANG NOPPAMAS" (นางนพมาศ ), a royal consort of King Lithai. She also initiated the tradition of decorating the Krathong, a lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves and stems, to float on the water.
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"LOY KRATHONG" happens everywhere in
Thailand. In touristic places like Sukhotai, Ayuthaya the
festival is highly famous. Often there is an election of
miss "LOY KRATHONG". Women are dressed in Thai traditional
clothes. For a more traditional festival closer to everyday Thai life, people
prefer non touristic places.
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| Miss Loy Krathong |
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In november 2000 Kesaraporn Duangsawan captured the hearts of the judges and walked away with 6,000 baht as first runner-up in a "LOY KRATHONG" beauty contest in Ratchaburi -- until organizers discovered the beauty queen was a man (กะเทย - man dressed like a woman). Some of the contestants had complained of unfair competition saying Kesaraporn was actually male. The disgraced 22 years old beauty queen handed back the prize money a few days after. Kesaraporn had asked only to keep the Miss Media runner-up sash as a momento.
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In november 2002, the Bangkok
city governor created a polemic by encouraging the use of styrofoam floats .
He said that it's light and easy for the clean-up afterward. The floats made from banana
trunks sink fast and they make the water rot. His declarations cause polemic as he is
also head of the garbage collectors and that styrofoam is not biodegradable.
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| Krathong sellers |
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