Thais And Foreign Tourists Celebrate Loy Krathong

[george]

Thais and foreign tourists celebrate 'loy krathong' festival

BANGKOK: -- Thais and foreign tourists celebrate 'loy krathong' festival throughout the country Wednesday evening, making hotel rooms in many provincs have been fully booked.

In Bangkok, the Bankok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has opened 18 public parks for people to float their 'krathongs' from 06:00 p.m. till midnight.

People are also welcome to float their krathongs at canals and rivers where security measures have been well in place--like those provided by the city authority at the public parks.

Local residents in provincial areas, particularly in such major tourist destinations as Hat Yai in the southern province of Songkhla, the central old capital city of Ayutthaya and the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Sukhothai, join visiting foreign tourists to joyously celebrate the 'loy krathong' or 'full moon festival'.

Almost all hotel rooms in the country's major tourist destinations have been booked.

Government and local officials have urged people and foreign tourists--through public campaigns--to float krathongs made from natural materials, noting that the environmental-friendly krathongs would have no adverse effects on the environment.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture and other agencies have warned festivity revellers, particularly youths, to be aware of their safety and avoid any misconducts or inappropriate behaviours during the full moon festival celebrations.

'Loy krathong' has its traditional meaning of 'floating flowers', and is a day when people offer their gratitude and pay homage to the Goddess of the River.

Todays, krathongs, made from various materials namely banana leaves and bread, are decorated inside with various flowers, candles, incense and other offerings.

--TNA 2005-11-16

[tuky]

We floated our Krathongs in our fishpond. My wife says this is just as good as sending them down a river if not better as it is OUR fishpond

[george]

Millions celebrate Loy Krathong festival

BANGKOK: -- Candle-lit krathongs were cast adrift on water across the nation last night as millions of revellers turned out to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival. In lively festivals everywhere, people took part in colourful parades, music and beauty contests and the launching of krathongs.

Many local authorities hosted events to celebrate the festival that has been passed from generation to generation since the Sukhothai era.

On Loy Krathong night, people traditionally float their krathongs, or decorative baskets, on water to show gratitude to the Goddess of Water and ask her for forgiveness for improper use of the river and water resources during the past year.

Last night, krathong-floating festivals were held around the country, including Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Phayao, Prachin Buri, Ayutthaya and of course, Bangkok.

In the capital, 18 public parks were open to revellers until midnight where people could be seen carrying a krathongs of every size and shape.

Aside from beautiful krathongs made of banana leaves and flowers, floats made of bread were also popular. The Bangkok administration had been promoting bread krathongs saying that it was good for the environment and hungry fish.

Huge interest in the festival was reflected in traffic jams leading to major sites. Mobile-phone networks were also busy, as people tried to catch up with friends and relatives to meet up and float krathongs.

It was also a busy night for law-enforcement authorities. Police across the country manned checkpoints and patrolled various areas to prevent drunk-driving and brawls.

In addition, more than 4,300 officials went out in force last night to remove more than 1 million krathongs from city waterways.

--The Nation 2005-11-17

[tuky]

Loy Krathong song.

Please enjoy, and think about it's meaning, not just a stupid Thai celebration but a time for all of us to start again,

Below is the well-known English version. This English translation rhymes and fits the rhythm but misses some of the meaning in Thai.

November full moon shines

Loy Krathong, loy Krathong

and the water's high in the river and local klong

Loy Krathong is here and everybody's full of cheer

We're together at the klong

Each one with his krathong

As we push away we pray

We can see a better day

And now is the version that is correct.

วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง

wan-pen duean sip-sawng

The full moon (of) the twelfth month

น้ำก็นองเต็มตลิ่ง

nam gaw nawng dtem dtaling

as water fills to the banks.

เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง

rao tung-laai chai-ying

We, all men and women,

สนุกกันจริงวันลอยกระทง

sanook gun jing wun loy gratong

really have a good time (on) loy krathong day

ลอย ลอย กระทง

loy loy gratong

Float, float the krathongs

ลอย ลอย กระทง

loy loy gratong

Float, float the krathongs

ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว

loy krathong kan laew

After we've floated our krathongs,

ขอเชิญน้องแก้ว

khaw choen nawngkaew

(I) invite (you) my darling

ออกมารำวง

awk maa ramwong

to come out and dance.

รำวงวันลอยกระทง

ramwong wan loy krathong

Ramwong (on) loy krathong day

รำวงวันลอยกระทง

ramwong wan loy krathong

Ramwong (on) loy krathong day

บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ

bun ja song hai rao sukjai

(Making) merit will give us happiness

บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ

bun ja song hai rao sukjai

(Making) merit will give us happiness

Do you know the full "Loy Krathong" song?