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Thailand - Loy Krathong Festival


Photo Gallery of Loy Krathong Festival.

This is "Krathong Saai " (saai: line).
Send krathongs one by one and the krathongs make a line like a dragon.
The big krathong is the last one to be sent. This place may be "Tak".
(Photo by TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/ )

One of the most popular and wonderful festivals in Thailand is this " Loy Krathong Festival ". It's a Thai traditional event and taken place on the night of full moon in the middle of November (12th month of Thai lunar calendar) every year.
It's held in each area through the country, and this year, 2005, they have the festival on 16, November.

Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai.
Really wonderful with fireworks.
Marching with a big krathong.
Krathongs decorated with banana leaves and candles.
People send them onto a river.
(Photo by TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/ )

"Loy" means "to float" and "Krathong" is a lotus-shaped boat decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks and so on.
On the full moon night, when the river is high over the country, people launch their Krathongs on rivers, canals or small ponds to thank to the Goddess of water (Khongkha or Ganga) and put away sins and bad luck.

Especially the Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai is very famous.
Same as Songkran Festival (Water Festival), Loy Krathong Festival is also the most important event for Thai people in the year.

You can listen to the "LoiKrathong song" on the LoiKrathong website below;
TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/

(Based on their policy, LoiKrathong pictures from the website are put on this page.)


Huge krathong. Maybe in Bangkok.
Huge krathong also in the evening. How beautiful !
A big krathong are going with fireworks.
Another big krathong is going on the river.
A lot of men are now sending a krathong.
Why do they have green cloth around ?
Loy Krathong Festival a long time ago.
Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai.
Wonderful scenery with remains.
Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai. Very beautiful scenery in the dusk.
Are they waiting for the sunset ?
They are making krathongs together.
Everyone is sending a krathong.
The small fireworks is also for the Goddess of water ?
Family members are sending krathongs.
The festival in Sukhothai. Everyone is sending a krathong.
A lot of people join the festival.
Very beautiful scenery with remains.
A lot of people have lights. How wonderful !
A lot of krathongs with lights go along the river.

(Photo by TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/ )





[Loy Krathong] Krathong

"Krathong" is a lotus-shaped boat decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks and so on, or in short, "lantern".
You will see some pictures from a " Krathong Contest " in Bangkok.
(It looks like this kind of contest is held around the period of Loy Krathong Festival. )

In recent days, Krathongs are made from/of natural things such as flowers, potato and wood. They are too wonderful Krathongs to be launched on a river...
Krathong 1
Copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse with a lot of white, yellow and purple blossoms.
Krathong 2
Looks like this is a copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse, as well. It's made of thin wood.
Krathong 1
Copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse with a lot of white, yellow and purple blossoms.
Krathong 2
Looks like this is a copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse, as well. It's made of thin wood.
Krathong 3
Made from Thai potato. Very simple and gentle to launch on the river for nature.
Krathong 4
Decorated with flowers, coloured by Thai flowers.
Krathong 3
Made from Thai potato. Very simple and gentle to launch on the river for nature.
Krathong 4
Decorated with flowers, coloured by Thai flowers.
Krathong 5
Looks this is made of wood.
The board right bottom shows that the upper number is the entry number of a Krathong and the lower is the team name who made it.
Krathong 6
Made of a lot of banana leaves. This is simple but wonderful.
Krathong 7
Elaborately crafted krathong.
Krathong 5
Looks this is made of wood.
The board right bottom shows that the upper number is the entry number of a Krathong and the lower is the team name who made it.
Krathong 6
Made of a lot of banana leaves. This is simple but wonderful.
Krathong 7
Elaborately crafted krathong.

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[Loy Krathong] Thai Dance

Thai dance and music with Thai musical instruments sponsored by Sky Train company, seemingly with the continuation of Thai traditional events and taking a good care of the environment as its motto.
Entertainments on the Loy Krathong Festival day.

Thai dance and music with Thai musical instruments sponsored by SkyTrain company, seemingly with the continuation of Thai traditional events and taking a good care of the environment as its motto.

Not only this event but various contests are taken place.
Beautifully dressed Thai dance. The middle lady in blue looks a main performer.
Beautiful, aren't they ? Personally, the boy in the back looks good. :D )
Thai Dance 1
Beautifully dressed Thai dance. The middle lady in blue looks a main performer.
Thai Dance 2
Beautiful, aren't they ?
Personally, the boy in the back looks good. :D )
A little close-up.
A lot of audience.
 The long shaped instruments are called "Can". The shape of the guitar-like instruments on the right is curious.
Thai Dance 3
A little close-up.
This place
A lot of audience.
Thai musical instruments
 The long shaped instruments are called "Can". The shape of the guitar-like instruments on the right is curious.
Thai dance in the northeast. Dance with skin of coconut.
This also is a dance of northeast area.
This is a north east dance as well. Kids are dancing.
Thai Dance 4
Thai dance in the northeast. Dance with skin of coconut.
Thai Dance 5
This also is a dance of northeast area.
Thai Dance 6
This is a north east dance as well. Kids are dancing.

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チャオプラヤー川の綺麗な舟たち

You'll see a great number of lovely boats decorated with a lot of lights along Chao Phraya River.
This is one scenery along Chao Phraya River on the day of Loy Krathong Festival. You'll see a great number of lovely boats decorated with a lot of lights like the pictures in this part.

They are attractive and fantastic. The pictures were taken in 2005.
Various events are hold in this period.
A lot of people gather. They are waiting for the decorated boats.
A lot of people gather. They are waiting for the decorated boats.
Various events
Various events are hold in this period.
Scenery along the river 1
A lot of people gather. They are waiting for the decorated boats.
The boats are coming ! How fantastic with the colour of the sun set !
Scenery along the river 2
The boats are coming ! How fantastic with the colour of the sun set !
Decorated boats are coming one after another.
Two dragons at the head of the boat.
Decorated boat 1
Decorated boats are coming one after another.
Decorated boat 2
Two dragons at the head of the boat.
Sukhotai-styled ? boat. A Buddha statue in the middle.
With fireworks. A little dangerous .. ?
Decorated boat 3
Sukhotai-styled ? boat. A Buddha statue in the middle.
Decorated boat 4
With fireworks. A little dangerous .. ?
Decorated with a lot of lights by a college.
Decorated boat 5
Decorated with a lot of lights by a college.
Heaven imaged boat with a rainbow, clouds and a waterfall by KMITL (college).
Decorated boat 6
Heaven imaged boat with a rainbow, clouds and a waterfall by KMITL (college).
Decorated with famous temple names.
Elephants on the clouds.
Decorated boat 7
Decorated with famous temple names.
Decorated boat 8
Elephants on the clouds.
Phom Pra Sumaen
Ancient fort. Fascinating brightly lit. up.
Restaurant boat beautifully decorated.
Rama 8 bridge. Very beautiful.
Phom Pra Sumaen
Ancient fort. Fascinating brightly lit. up.
Restaurant boat
Restaurant boat beautifully decorated.
Scenery of the river
Rama 8 bridge. Very beautiful.

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[Loy Krathong] Launch Krathongs on the river

It's about time to launch a krathong on the river !

Now, prepare a krathong and float it on the river. It's in a park here and a krathong has to go on a big pond, though. While sending a krathong, thank to the Goddess of water and put away sins and bad luck.
Krathongs like this are sold. Of course, some people launch ones they made by themselves.
Krathongs are send onto a river while people thanking to the water.
Krathongs
Krathongs like this are sold. Of course, some people launch ones they made by themselves.
Launch a krathong
Krathongs are send onto a river while people thanking to the water.
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
Krathongs are floating away 1
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
Kids are selling krathongs.
Krathongs are floating away 2
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
Selling krathongs
Kids are selling krathongs.
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
Lighted toys. I guess no relationship to the festival.
A park in Bangkok.
Launch krathongs not only on a river but in a park is also okay. A lot of people gather here.
Krathongs are floating away 3
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
Toys ?
Lighted toys. I guess no relationship to the festival.
People
A park in Bangkok.
Launch krathongs not only on a river but in a park is also okay. A lot of people gather here.

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[Loy Krathong] Loy Krathong Song

You can listen to the song of Loy Krathong on the website of Loy Krathong. :)
TAT (http://www.loikrathong.net/)
Thai language English
วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง น้ำนองเต็มตลิ่ง
เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง
สนุกกันจริง วันลอยกระทง

ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง
ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว
ขอเชิญน้องแก้วออกมารำวง

รำวงวันลอยกระทง รำวงวันลอยกระทง
บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ

วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง น้ำนองเต็มตลิ่ง
เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง
สนุกกันจริง วันลอยกระทง

ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง
ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว
ขอเชิญน้องแก้วออกมารำวง

รำวงวันลอยกระทง รำวงวันลอยกระทง
บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ
 November full moon shines,
 Loi Krathong, Loi Krathong,
 and the water's high
 in the river and local klong,
 
 Loi Loi Krathong,
 Loi Loi Krathong,
 Loi Krathong is here and everybody's full of cheer,
 
 We're together at the klong,
 We're together at the klong,
 
 Each one with this krathong,
 As we push away we pray,
 We can see a better day.

Loikrathong's lyrics by TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/

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