Fireworks and large rafts on the Chao Phraya River, Loy Krathong Festival of Light, Bangkok, November 2004

Loy Krathong (or Loi Kratong, Thai ลอยกระทง) 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1080x549, 103 KB)This is a merge of two photos that I took myself with an Olympus C8080W digital camera. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1080x549, 103 KB)This is a merge of two photos that I took myself with an Olympus C8080W digital camera. ... Origin of the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan A view of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok The Chao Phraya (Thai: ) is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial river plain marking the mainland of the country. ... Location within in Thailand Coordinates: , Country Settled Ayutthaya Period Founded as capital 21 April 1782 Government  - Type Special administrative area  - Governor Apirak Kosayothin Area  - City 1,568. ... The Thai lunar calendar or Patitin Chantarakati (Thai: ปฏิทินจันทรคติ) was replaced by the Patitin Suriyakati (ปฎิทินสุริยคติ) Thai solar calendar in AD 1888 2431 BE for most purposes, but the Chantarakati still determines most Buddhist feast or holy days, as well as a day for the famous Loy Krathong festival. ... For other uses, see November (disambiguation). ...

“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. 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. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Styrofoam is a trademark name for polystyrene thermal insulation material, manufactured by Dow Chemical Company. ... Fourth of July fireworks in San Diego, California New Years Day fireworks at Seaport Village, California Preparing fireworks at Sayn Castle 4th of July fireworks in Portland, Oregon Fireworks at Epcot Center, Florida, USA. See the Video. ... Mrs. ...

Letting go of Loy Krathong rafts

The festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Divali as thanksgiving to the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,592 × 1,944 pixels, file size: 139 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Letting go of Loy Krathong rafts in Thailand. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,592 × 1,944 pixels, file size: 139 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Letting go of Loy Krathong rafts in Thailand. ... Diwali taking place in a rural area Dīpãvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) or Diwãli (contracted spelling) is the Hindu festival of lights, held on the final day of the Vikram calendar, one type of a Hindu calendar that is followed by North Indians. ...

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 Lord Buddha. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), 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 Khongkha. King Mongkut (Rama IV), (October 18, 1804 – October 1, 1868) was king of Siam from 1851 to 1868. ... Media:Example. ...

The beauty contests that 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 decorated krathongs. The Sukhothai kingdom was a kingdom in the north of Thailand around the city Sukhothai. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ...

The Thai tradition of Loy Kratong started off in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya being particularly well known. Sukhothai (Thai สุโขทัย) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (centre right), a gate of the old city wall. ... Ayutthaya (full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thai พระนครศรีอยุธยา; also spelled Ayudhya) city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. ...

See also

• Public holidays in Thailand

Public holidays in Thailand UN Thailand: Official Holidays in 2006 Thai Calendar of Events Categories: | | ...

External links

• Photos with narrative of Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai, Thailand (November 18th, 2007)
• Loi Krathong Festival (Explanation of Loi Krathong festival with Java-enhanced photo and music file.)
• Loy Kratong Festival
• Photos of Loi Krathong Festival at Wat Buppharam, Penang, Malaysia (November 5th, 2006)
• Photo's of the Loi Krathong Festival at Chiang Mai, Thailand (November 6th, 2006)
• Video and pictures of Loi Krathong Festival