Ayutthaya all set for floating lantern festival

AYUTTHAYA, 26 Oct 2014, (NNT) - The local administration of Baanpho Sub-district, Sena District in Ayutthaya, Province has turned the areas normally inundated by floods into a site for the celebration of the upcoming floating lantern festival; to be held on November 5th - 9th.

Provincial Governor Apachart Todilokvej on Saturday presided over the unveiling ceremony. He later floated lanterns with the local authorities, marking the official opening of the venue.

According to local administration officials, the low-lying Baanpho sub-district is normally hit by floods every year, forcing its locals to take refuge on the roadside along the area’s irrigation canal. The office has initiated the idea of putting the flood-hit areas into good use by making it a venue for the floating lantern festival, turning misfortune into opportunity for the locals to make profits while preserving this famous Thai tradition.

Various activities to be held include boat racing, traditional Thai dances, a widow beauty contest, and stage performances by military officials.

According to local administration officials, the venue will, after the event, be converted into a floating market, with the hope of stimulating the local economy.

-- NNT 2014-10-26

Oh great! Let's go set fire to a few more families' wooden shacks with these floating incendiary devices. And if we're lucky, some will float into the flight path of overhead planes.

These things are a menace and should be banned, not encouraged.

Unthinking bureaucrats.

A widow beauty contest???

What the......?

A widow beauty contest???

What the......?

Because they might be sad and need happiness