Loy Krathong Festival

Sifting through locum doctor jobs, looking for some of the things you need and dreaming about what’s happening in Thailand this month you may remember that the Loy Krathong Festival is on later in the month.

The Loy Krathong fest is an annual event that occurs, according to the traditional Thai lunar calendar, on the full of the twelfth month which for those who follow the western calendar falls in November. So the festival in 2010 will be held on November 21.

Loy Krathong means ‘floating raft’ and it is close to ten inches in diameter, constructed from a banana tree trunk. These days it is more popular to use bread since it is much more environmentally friendly and will be food for the fish. The rafts are all decorated with a number of things such as colourful sticks, candles, flowers, and banana leaves elaborately folded.

When the full moon occurs the rafts will be floated down a body of water such as a river, the sea, lakes, and even canals. By doing this the people are apologizing for all the horrible things people have done to the river over the past year to the Goddess of the water. By putting a candle on the raft it symbolizes the letting go of your old grudges, defilements, and anger. Most Thai do to bring themselves good luck.

You can expect even larger rafts that are sponsored by private organizations, corporation, and the government. There is also raft competitions that are officially organized in local communities and focuses on the rafts craftsmanship and beauty. Also there is usually a beauty contest and fireworks during the festival.