More people celebrate Loy Krathong festival this year

[webfact]

More people celebrate Loy Krathong festival this year
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 7 -- As peace has once again returned to Thailand, more members of the public came out on Thursday night to celebrate the annual Loy Krathong festival nationwide.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said today that its workers began collecting krathongs from canals and the Chao Phraya River in the capital at about 8pm last night and finished their tasks at 6am this morning.

A total of 982,064 krathongs were collected of which 885,995 krathongs made from banana leaves or natural materials while the rest were made from polystyrene foam.

The BMA said the amount of krathongs collected this year in Bangkok was 116,649 more than last year’s collection.

Thais celebrate Loy Krathong by floating small vessels decorated with flowers, incense sticks and candles in rivers or canals to ask for forgiveness and blessing from the River Goddess.

In the northern city of Chiang Mai, municipal workers are busying cleaning and collecting krathongs throughout the city while they believe the amount of krathongs and garbage would be about 50 tonnes more than the same event last year.

Many dead fish are seen in the canal at the Tha Pae City Gate due to the lack of oxygen while many birds died, probably due to shock from the sound of fireworks and firecrackers during last night’s celebrations.

In nearby Lampang province airport security officials collected remains of hot-air lanterns which fell near the runway. Airport officials said about 20 lanterns were collected, many less than the 100 or so which fell onto the airport last year.

Many bar and restaurant owners at Rin Beach on Ko Pha-ngan in the Gulf of Thailand near Surat Thani were disappointed with their sales on Loy Krathong festival which falls on full moon because few partygoers were there.

The entrepreneurs believed the lack of partygoers was due to the September 15 murders of two British tourists on Ko Tao, not far from Pha-ngan, and the martial law imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order. (MCOT online news)


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-11-07

[mojorison]

Hats off to the Thais for showing so much courage in the face of adversity.

[robertthebruce]

I went last night, and had a great time, the Thai people were all smiling and it was lovely to see so many happy families.

[BoristheBlade]

Were do the authorities get there figures from??

Are they seriously suggesting someone sits on a boat and counts the krathongs as they are recovered.?

But on a lighter note, last night was fun, enjoyable and safe...than you Thailand

[expat_4_life]

WoW ... from the OP

"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said today that its workers began collecting krathongs from canals and the Chao Phraya River in the capital at about 8pm last night and finished their tasks at 6am this morning.

A total of 982,064 krathongs were collected of which 885,995 krathongs made from banana leaves or natural materials while the rest were made from polystyrene foam.

The BMA said the amount of krathongs collected this year in Bangkok was 116,649 more than last year’s collection."

Really .... they managed to sort and count almost a million krathongs in record time, wonder how many krathong counters they had on this job?

Even if the numbers are accurate, it doesn't necessarily indicate an increase in celebrants. Did they consider that all the

recent warnings about celebrating with lanterns under penalty of death as a contributing factor to the increase of krathongs?

Edited November 7, 2014 by expat_4_life

[Commerce]

Seems Prayuth has returned happiness to Thailand, after all, especially with everybody concentrating on using banana leaves, and not styrofoam.

Can't work out the extra 50 tons of krathong garbage in CM, seeing as only 0,012% of krathongs were made of polystyrene foam, though.

"Many bar and restaurant owners at Rin Beach on Ko Pha-ngan in the Gulf of Thailand near Surat Thani were disappointed with their sales on Loy Krathong festival which falls on full moon because few partygoers were there.

The entrepreneurs believed the lack of partygoers was due to the September 15 murders of two British tourists on Ko Tao, not far from Pha-ngan, and the martial law imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order."

Seems not all are happy though, especially the dead fish and birds, from lack of oxygen and fright from fireworks, respectively.

[heybruce]

"In the northern city of Chiang Mai, municipal workers are busying cleaning and collecting krathongs throughout the city while they believe the amount of krathongs and garbage would be about 50 tonnes more than the same event last year."

Total BS. It's been raining the last two days and nights in Chiang Mai. There was a brief break in the rain yesterday evening and some people rushed to send up some lanterns, but celebrations are a fraction of what they were in the past.

The propaganda is becoming more blatant. Why not be honest and admit the obvious, that bad weather is hurting the celebration?

[manhood]

WoW ... from the OP

"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said today that its workers began collecting krathongs from canals and the Chao Phraya River in the capital at about 8pm last night and finished their tasks at 6am this morning.

A total of 982,064 krathongs were collected of which 885,995 krathongs made from banana leaves or natural materials while the rest were made from polystyrene foam.

The BMA said the amount of krathongs collected this year in Bangkok was 116,649 more than last year’s collection."

Really .... they managed to sort and count almost a million krathongs in record time, wonder how many krathong counters they had on this job?

Even if the numbers are accurate, it doesn't necessarily indicate an increase in celebrants. Did they consider that all the

recent warnings about celebrating with lanterns under penalty of death as a contributing factor to the increase of krathongs?

Sure they not count the krathongs and sure you can not know that there is an increas of celebrants; i think in Pattaya less people been on the beach.

And the warning about lanterns flying into flight routes doesn't interest anybody ( as long no no names and adressses on the lantern)...;-))

Anyway its a nice and peaceful evening to spend with friends!