~LoY kRaThOng fEsTiVaL~

'LOy LOy KratHOnG......LOy LOy KratHOnG'
Have you heard this words before??
Yes!?
or...Never??
based on the theme given this week~customs...
so this is great time for us to share something~

As what mentioned above
this week we'll share with you about 'Loy Krathong Festival'

It is a festival practised by Buddhists in Thailand,our closest neighbour.
This festival is traditionally performed on the full moon night usually in November annually.
The floating of 'krathong'~a banana leaf cup~ in the river is the main purpose for this festival.
Based on the people belief, the floating of krathong is to float away their bad luck as well as to make apologies to Khongkha or Ganga th river Goddess.

"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 use specially made bread 'flowers' and may use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc.

In addition, fireworks and beauty contests also take place during the festival.
The beauty Queen contest as an important hight lightof the night. It is called "The Noppamas Queen Contest". Noppamas is a legendary figure from Sukhothai period in the past. It was said that "Noppamas" was a chief royal consort of a Sukhothai-King names "Lhe-thai". She may be the first person who invented and decorated Krathong in Thailand used for floating in the river on this.

However in Chiang Mai the north state in Thailand celebrate Loy Kra Thong in a different style.They float thousands of Khom Fai into the air. Making a Khom Fai 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 Fai is like flying grief and ill fortune away.

~So that's all about Loy Kra Thong Festival~
.....tHanX u.....

~we're glad to have some comments from u~