Creativity of Krathong Makers in Thailand

(Above photos are courtesy of my sister-in-law, Edna, from School of Architecture and Design of KMUTT)

Tonight is the celebration of Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. It's a famous Thai annual celebration as a union between Thais and water. It's the time for Thai people to worship the Goddess of Water. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar which usually falls in November in the Christian or international calendar.
"Loy" or "loi" means "to float" while "krathong" is a small boat or raft usually made of banana trunk decorated with artistically-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks and other stuff. Some krathongs are made of bread. Plastics or Styrofoams are being discouraged by environmentalists as they cause pollution to the waters if floated.

Krathongs made of pink and white lotus flowers, the symbol of Buddhism

Bread krathong is favored by environmentalists as it also serves as food for the fish where it is floated.

During the night of the full moon such as tonight, many people will release a krathong like the ones shown in the photo here on a river, a pond or any body of water. Thais believe that floating a kratong will get rid of bad luck, evil spirits and troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets. The following large krathongs are entries of university students to the Krathong-making Contest at my university, KMUTT.

 

All these show Thai people's creativity in just about everything. Coming up next is how krathong is floated.