LOYKRATHONG FESTIVAL
Loy Krathong is the ceremony annually held in the full-moon night of the 12th month or the 15th night of the waxing moon of the 12th month according to the lunar calendar. That time of the year the river are at bank-full stage. Flowers, candles or joss sticks and all kinds of inventions will be adorned on
a buoyant object such as a float-so called Krathong, a boat, a raft, a lotus and etc. and then launched into the river under different aspirations and faith.
Established based on different life styles and philosophies, rationales and beliefs behind Loy Krathong festival are gathered as follows.
1. To show gratefulness to the rivers whose water nurtures the people living along the river. To beg Goddess Ganga’s pardon that the rivers are necessarily contaminated during the year.
2. To pay respect to Lord Buddha’s footmark on the river bank of Narmada River as he went to preach God Naga, thus, printed his footprint on the river bank of Narmada, a river in Dakkinabot Territory of ancient India. Nowadays it is called Nerabuddha River
3. To exorcise because Loy Krathong ceremony is deemed as floating of sufferings, sorrow, diseases and evil entities which shall be carried away by the current like the Brahman ceremony of sin floating.
4. To pay respect to Phra Upakut, who is worshipped by the Northern people, who also practiced perseverance and incantation under the sea or at the vortex of the sea. The tale says Phra Upakut was the revered monk whose supernatural power could conquer the Mara (Satan)
There are usually school activities on Loy Krathong day. There are celebrations organized every year in every province. It’s the night when different happenings bustle around town. Everywhere, there are Krathongs made of various materials such as false stems and leaves of banana tree, leaf sheaths of crinum lily or coconut coir etc. The Krathongs shall be beautified with flowers, candles and joss sticks in order to worship those Gods. In the present day, Krathongs are made with synthetic materials due to its pervasive availability. However, synthetic Krathongs are more difficult to decompose. Thus, environmentalists campaign against using synthetic Krathongs. Consequentially, people are encouraged to make Krathongs from various degradable materials such as bread, paper and degradable plastics in order to conserve the environment.
Arriving at the river bank, people kneel down and make a wish. The regular wishes like bidding for the desired wishes to come true or bidding for success are made. Some cast lots for their wishes before launching the Krathongs and observe how they float away. Some put coins into the Krathong to worship Goddess Ganga.
水灯节(Loy Krathong) 作为世界上最浪漫的节日之一，在泰国人被认做是情人节，在泰国人心目中的重要性仅次于泼水节。
水灯节(Loy Krathong) 作为世界上最浪漫的节日之一，在泰国人被认做是情人节，在泰国人心目中的重要性仅次于泼水节。
水灯节的举办日期为每年泰历十二月十五日月圆之夜（中国的农历10月15日），所以今年（2018年）水灯节的举办日期为11月22日，11月21日至24日期间的各种庆祝活动参照下表。
花车游行也是水灯节的最重要的看点之一。清迈各个区县与及不同的团体都会制作自己的花车前来参加游行，每辆花车都非常绚丽。
契迪龙寺旁边的全柚木寺庙盼道寺拥有600多年的历史。水灯节期间，将会举行神圣而唯美的点灯仪式，僧人们将会念诵佛法，漂放水灯，届时万盏烛灯如夜空的星星般璀璨。你也可以在神圣的时刻为家人祈福。在仪式结束后，还有精彩的舞蹈、泰北战鼓等表演，一定能让你大饱眼福。
水灯节期间（由来是为了祭祀河神，并祈求来年风调雨顺），人们都会到河边放造型各异的水灯，届时水面上将会闪着一片烛光，辉映着青年情侣幸福的靓影并纷纷为爱祈祷。也有父母带着孩子祈求孩子学业进步，祈祷家人健康平安
Note : Information may be change Please Contact details of the organizers of each event
with the relevant authorities.
Compiled by : Tourism Authority of Thailand (Chiang Mai Office)
105/1 Chiang Mai – Lamphun Road T.Watgate A.Muang Chiang Mai 50000
Tel. 053-248604-5 Fax. 053-248606
E-mail : tatchmai@tat.or.th
www.tourismchiangmai.org
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