Loy Kratong Festival

This year the Loy Kratong festival is on Sunday 21th Nov, 2010. This is the day that Thai people release flower floats bearing candles and incense sticks into rivers and canals. The floats are a humble offering to the goddess of river to pay her their respects and seek forgiveness.

In Bangkok and other big cities and hotels, it always appears that Loy Krathong is pretty much a tourist oriented festival. In provinces and less touristy areas of Bangkok however Loy Krathong is a solemn family oriented festival and a great opportunity for prayers.

Here is a brief account of how the festival will be celebrated in various parts of Thailand:

Bangkok
Starting tomorrow, decorative lights will grace major landmarks on the Chao Phraya River, when also on view will be a parade of colorfully illuminated boats plying the river.
On Nov 21 several riverside hotels and restaurants will be offering dining cruises and diners on board can use the opportunity to release flower floats into the river.
At Phra Sumen Fort Park near Khao San Road there will be booths selling choice food and drinks.

Chiang Mai
In Thailand's northern capital flower floats play second fiddle to flying lanterns. The festival here goes by the name "Yi Peng" in which local light lanterns and release then into sky at night. Revellers will be releasing some 10,000 lanterns on the night.
Also planned are cultural performances by the banks of the Ping River where on sale will be flower floats, which visitors can buy and release them into the river.

Sukhothai
The northern province, regarded the birth place of the festival, celebrates the occasion over three days and as many nights _ Nov 19-21_ at Sukhothai Historical Park. The highlight is a light and sound presentation at 7.30pm and, for this weekend, another show has been added, at 9.30pm, to go with cultural performances.

Ayutthaya
The Royal Arts and Crafts Centre at Bang Sai in Ayutthaya will be doing it the traditional way, with people dressed in period costume performing musical hits from yesteryear, along with a contest of flower floats in which the entries would be vying for the King's Cup.