Bt8 Billion To Change Hands During Loy Krathong

[Totster]

Bt8 billion to change hands during Loy Krathong

Over Bt8 billion is expected to circulate during the annual Loy Krathong Festival on Saturday, a five per cent increase from the previous year, according to a University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) survey.

Loy Krathong is a traditional festival celebrated in Thailand on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, falling this year on November 24.

The UTCC survey on spending during the Loy Krathong Festival showed that festival goers would spend, on average, Bt816.68 each on the day, compared with Bt750 last year.

The UTCC suggested that Bt8.2 billion will change hands during the festival, a five per cent increase from last year when Bt7.8 billion was tallied.

Yajai Chuwicha, head of the Chamber Business Poll at the university, said the survey was conducted from November 16-19 among 1,177 respondents.

Slightly over two-thirds of the respondents – or 68.7 per cent -- said they were prepared to enjoy the festival, while 31.7 per cent said they will ignore Loy Krathong altogether.

Most of those who said they will celebrate Loy Krathong said they would launch their krathongs near their homes, with Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan among the most popular provinces to observe the custom.

Similarly, 68.1 per cent of the respondents said they choose to mark Loy Krathong with families celebrations, and 15.9 per cent said they will go with their girlfriend or boyfriend.

Banana trunk was the favourite material to make krathong -- 68.7 per cent -- followed by bread with 18.9 per cent.

"Loy" means "to float", while krathongs are traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk decorated with elaborately folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense and the like.

Krathongs are intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to deities such as Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess.

On wishes they preferred to receive on the festival, most respondents said they wanted to see good prospects for the economy, followed by good health, a stable government and the bad things they want the krathong to float away were the southern insurgency-related problems, corruption, drugs, crime and poverty.

Meanwhile, police spokesman Pol. Lt-Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen confirmed that the police were ready to ensure the safety of public during the festival. Police patrols will be on duty in all areas, he said.

He urged festival celebrants to avoid risky behaviour, and reiterated that using fireworks is illegal. If reckless festival-goers harm others with pyrotechnics, they would face severe punishment. (TNA)-E003

BANGKOK, Nov 23 (TNA)

[tartempion]

B8.2 billion for 65 million Thais, that's about B126 per inhabitant.

I was with the thai family yesterday and went to the village event.

At the morning market I bought for B100 flowers.

All of the women made kratongs from bambou wood and banana leaves.

There was a parade in the village around 4pm and a miss Kratong election around the pond in the evening.

There was not much to eat on site, so the ten of us spent zero baht.

I did not see many people spending much neither.

There you go with statistics, don't think many isaan farmers spent much cash yesterday, since they don't have much cash to spend

[Seneque]

8 billion baht EXPECTED to circulate ..

I find this loykratong very subdued ... i don't think thais have a lot to spend anymore... economics (despite what the 'gost governement' says) is at a real low with personal debts at a real high (particularly upcountry) ... Who is giving these numbers away ? ... the same people who make believe exports are at an all time high ? ....

[lazeeboy]

8 billion baht EXPECTED to circulate ..

I find this loykratong very subdued ... i don't think thais have a lot to spend anymore... economics (despite what the 'gost governement' says) is at a real low with personal debts at a real high (particularly upcountry) ... Who is giving these numbers away ? ... the same people who make believe exports are at an all time high ? ....

for this was one of the quietest loy kratongs in many years ,not so many people or kratongs being bought and sold ....