Loy-Krathong Festival

Today the whole Thailand is in festive mood because of the celebration of the Loy-Krathong festival. Here in Mae Sai it feels like Christmas. The people are walking outside the main streets with their family relaxing and celebrating. We also have "perya" here but better I guess. Only very few rides but the carousel really looks impressive. The big inflatable giant slide is attracting a lot of children. There is also a tiangge hosted by the Chinese near their temple for fund raising. The long and wide road leading to the border is full of people selling anything foods, dress, jackets, lanterns, books, finger foods, kakanin, almost anything.

Nonetheless the most important place today for Thais and Burmese Buddhists is the river. People come to the river to float their Krathong. "Krathong" is a "lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves". The Krathong usually containts a candle, three joss-sticks, some flower and coins. And "loy" means "to float."

The festival is considered by many as Brahmin in origin in which the people offer thanks to the goddess of water. Under the light of the fullmoon people light the candles and the joss sticks, make a wish and launch their krathongs on canals, rivers or even small ponds. It is believed that the krathong carry away sins and bad luck , and the wishes that have been made for the new year starts. It is indeed a time of celebration as people thought that their sufferings and bad luck are floating away.

Here in Mae Sai the festival starts on Saturday night and will go on until Sunday night. We will be back at the river tomorrow to observe the festival. People from all walks of life, young and old, rich and poor, Thai and Burmese will be together in this festival. After making a wish as if in deep prayer they would gently release their krathongs to the water and let them drift away until they are out of sight.

There are also people who sell fishes, crabs, and whatever water creatures are there and people will buy them on their way to the river. I see some of them hold the plastic in their two hands as if in prayer and press it on their forehead and after making a wish they release the fish to the river. I guess they do it to attract good fortune.

Although there are lots of symbolisms in this festival, the people are now doing it for fun. If there is religious significance in it, I am sure that only very few are taking this activities for spiritual reasons. Of course, I believe that Christians should not participate in this activities not because of its religious meaning but for the lack of it. We enjoy the festivities as casual observers. I hope to see more of it tonight.