Monday, November 2, 2009

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.

12 comments:

Joana Grace Banting-Lapore said...

Hi, Ma'am. How are you today?
I am glad to have stumbled upon your blog...
Info-loaded posts! Blog on!

nice A said...

hi, ma'am jo! i'm doing pretty well here in the land of smiles with nole & jako:)
i'm so greatly honored to be visited by a very talented journalism-media-art-writing-critique-dignitary like you. thanks a lot for stumbling upon my blog. please be here more often.
how's being an anchorwoman at ABS-CBN? hope to see you soon...mwahhh!!!

Joana Grace Banting-Lapore said...

Ma'am, may YM ka? Pwede tayo mag-chat? May i-verify lang ako. URGENT TALAGA. Please.

Joana Grace Banting-Lapore said...

Ma'am, please text me at 09189394726 asap--- or please email me at purplepathways1972@yahoo.com. Please let me know how we can talk or connect ASAP. I really need to be in touch with you right away. I NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW. PLEASE.

Joana Grace Banting-Lapore said...

Ma'am do you still maintain your Facebook account?
I checked it today and I could no longer access it. Why?

Joana Grace Banting-Lapore said...

I have been sending you text messages through your roaming number and I wonder why you have not been responding. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. Text me please the moment you read this-- 09189394726. I DESPERATELY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. Thanks!

Ahsanul Karim said...

Amazing pic with nice content

kathy said...

wow! ganda naman nito Miss A! Sensya na po ngayon lng ako nka-visit...

Jinky! said...

nice post, Ms A!

nice A said...

thanks a lot ahsan, kandi and jinky. i hope i can post more.

Dhemz said...

my gosh....those are gorgeous! love love the color combination....

musta napo te, dalaw me dito..sensya na, now lang me naka dalaw....been busy sa skul kasi....

btw, if ever may free time po kau, hope you can Vote for Akesha....your help is very much appreciated!

nice A said...

thanks din sa dalaw, dhemz! medyo masama pakiramdam ko dear but i'm trying to be fine.
sure, i'll vote for akesha.

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