|
Loy Krathong Festival is an annually celebrated festival in Thailand. It is held in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. It usually takes place on a full moon night. The words Loy Krathong means a section of a banana tree trunk made to float. This raft is decorated elaborately with flowers, candles, incense sticks and folded banana leaves. The Loy Krathong festival bears a strange resemblance to the Hindu festival of Diwali in the way lamps are floated along the river. According to popular belief it is said that if the candle in the krathong continues to burn till it goes out of sight then their wish shall be fulfilled. Besides floating the krathong there is also the beauty queen contest. It is known as the "Noppamas Queen Contest". Noppamas was a legendary figure from the Sukhothai period and it is believed that Noppamas was the chief royal consort to the king "Lhe- thai". She was the one who had introduced this festival by floating krathongs in the river. So when this season comes many amusement parks and hotels organize The Loy Krathong Festival and Contest with the Queen Noppamas as a major section. Thus natives as well as the foreigners get the chance to enjoy this festival.
|
