Loi
krathong's lyrics
(LISTEN)
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.
The Loi
Krathong festival dates back to the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom
(Thailand), about 700 years ago. It marked the end of the rainy season
and the main rice harvest. It is based on a Hindu tradition of thanking
the water god for the waters.
The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in
Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water,
with different unique characteristics.
As for the public, people usually make banana-leaf cups
to float them onto the river although there exist some uniquely
different aspects in certain communities. For example, the Yi Peng
Festival in Chiang Mai, during which balloon-like ‘Khom Loi' lanterns
including the ‘Khom Fai' – a fire lantern – and ‘Khom Khwan' – a smoke
lantern – are flown into the sky as a symbol of worship to Phrathat
Chulamani in heaven. Making a Khom Loi will need a lot of artistic
skills as well as scientific techniques, just like the ones used in
making a balloon. Tracing paper or Sa paper is used to make air bags of
various shapes. It is believed that flying a Khom Loi is like flying
grief and ill fortune away from ourselves or our home.
In Tak province, the Loi Krathong Sai Festival is
celebrated, which reflects the unity of the local people. Groups of
people gather at the river banks, each bringing along thousands of
Krathong made fro m coconut shells with dried wicks made from coconut
flesh anointed with oil or ash for their inflammable as well as durable
quality. There, they sing and dance with merriment.
The span of the Ping River that passes by the provincial city of Tak is
not deeper than one's waist, with underwater sand bars curving into
different shapes, forcing the current to meander. When the lit Krathongs
are floated onto the right current, one after another, they would
meander along and make a beautiful and twinkling curving line, or Sai in
Thai, amid the darkness of the night.
The famous Loi Krathong and Candle Festival in Sukhothai province
features a procession of offerings, including Phanom Mak – the betel
offering – and Phanom Dok Mai – the floral offering – carried by
beautiful girls, as well as banana-leaf floats accompanied by the
so-called Nang Nopphamat beauty queens.
The Phanom Mak and Phanom Dok Mai offerings are for the homage paying
rite at King Ramkhamhaeng the Great's monument in the heart of the
ancient city of Sukhothai. After that, people as well as visitors gather
and float the Krathongs together on ponds, known as Traphang, inside the
ancient city. The bright candle light from the floated Krathongs and the
cool breeze of November together lends a pleasant atmosphere for all
participants.
Besides the well-known Loi Krathong Festival, there is another tradition
that is based on a similar belief but is celebrated on the full moon
night of the eleventh lunar month. Known as the Illuminated Boat
Procession , the celebration takes place in the Northeastern provinces
of Thailand that is located on the Mekong River. Illuminated boats of
approximately 10 – 12 metres long are made from banana stalks or bamboo
by villagers. The boats contain sweets, the so-called Khao Tom Mat –
stuffed fried sticky rice – and objects to be donated inside, while
decorated with flowers, incense sticks, candles, lamps and tinder
outside. At present, the boats are created into various shapes such as
important places or mythical creatures, which lend a bright and
breathtaking sight when the boats illuminated by thousands of lamps are
floated onto the river.
Methods to make Kra Thong from banana
leaves.
The head of Kra Thong shall use soft stalk of banana or easily digest
material to cut in round shape approx. 1-2.5” at the desirable size,
fold the banana leaves in several shapes to assemble as Kra Thong.
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