World Festival & Events
Thailand - Loy Krathong (Festival of Lights)
Like most festivals in Thailand, the Loy Krathong Festival or the Festival of Lights had its origin in a legend. In Sukhothai more than 700 years ago, a court lady named Nang Nophamas, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, made a decorative float and presented it to the ruler of the Kingdom of Sukhothai. It was around the time Deepavali is celebrated by the Hindus.
Seeing the beauty of the festival, courtiers and lay people alike followed suit. Since then the festival is celebrated by Thais annually all over the country and to a certain extent by Malaysian of Thai origin in the States of Kedah, Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan. In Thailand the biggest celebrations are held in Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok. Krathings or floats decorated with flowers incense sticks and candles in various shapes and sizes are floated down the river.
The anthropologists will sternly tell you it's a rite to persuade the local-serpent ruler Phaya Nak, as he is known in Thailand, to halt the monsoon rains, dispel the floods and return the rivers to their normal tranquil ways. It is believed that as late as the 19th century, the Tai people in North Vietnam were sacrificing children with that aim in mind. Some had declared and believe that Phaya Nak or Dragon King is still around and can be seen at certain times in the Mekong River.
On the other hand, a more credible belief is that Krathong floating is an act of respect and a form of thanks to the Mother of the Waters, Mae Kongkha. Then again, we are also said to be paying our respect to the Nguuak or female water spirits or alternatively, to the Phra Maha Uppakut - a monk-like being who spends his time mediating in the river, coming out on his aims rounds on Wednesday mornings when the moon is full and generously rewarding those giving food to him. It is also believed that when you float your Krathong away, you are getting rid of the year's bad luck - so be careful not to upset your vessel or let it come back to you or you will start your new year with the old bad luck as an extra burden. (Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Kuala Lumpur Office (Malaysia/Brunei))
