The Loy Kratong Festival

When high- water season comes, the rivers and canals are full of water. In Thailand, the remarkable celebration of Loy Krathong takes place one the full moon day of 12th lunar month.

When the time comes, people who wish to take part in this festival bring their Krathongs ( generally leaf-cups ) which contain flowers, candles, and incense-sticks to the appointed place. Everybody light their candles and the incense-sticks in his or her Krathong and then floats the Krathongs gently on the surface of rivers, steams, ponds or canals throughout the kingdom

It is said in the Thai literature of the Sukhothai period that the “ Loy Kathong” as practiced today was meant to worship the Holy Footprints of the Lord Buddha on the beach of the Namada River. It was originally a Brahmanical rite whereby the Hindus gave their thanks to the Mother of waters, which as is the source of life and vigour.
In the Thai literature of the Sukhothai period, it is said that Nang Nophamat, a virtuous lady in the court of kind Ruang , was skilled in the art of making beautiful Kathongs or leaf-cups for the occasion
For Buddhism, its mean purpose is to provide a good opportunity for paying tribute to the Lord Buddha or the Triple Gem.

But it is believed that the origination of this ceremony is to pay tribute to the relics of the Lord Buddha in the Tavatimsa Heaven and to His Holy Footprints on the beach of Namada River. This cerebration has been observed to the present time.

This Loy Kathong festival is important, not only religiously, but also artistically and socially. The season of Loy Kathong offers a good opportunity for the youths, i.e., boys and girls to meet one another.

Vocabulary

Participate v. มีส่วนร่วม
Candle n. เกียน
Incense-stick n. ธูป
Float v. ลอย
Literature n. วรรณคี, หนังสือวรรณคดี
Rite n. พิธี
Footprint of the Lord Buddha n. รอยพระบากพระพุกธเจ้า
The mother of Waters n. พระแม่คงคา
Court n. ราชสำนัก
Tribute n. คาราวะ, ยกย่อง
Relic n. พระบรมสารีริกธาพุ, กระดูก