T h a i l a n d F e s t i v a l s 
Loy Krathong"Loy" means "to float" and a "Krathong" is a lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves. The Krathong usually contains a candle, three joss-sticks, some flowers and coins.
In fact, the festival is of Brahmin origin in which people offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. Thus, by moonlight, people
light the candles and joss-sticks,make a wish and launch their Krathongs on canals, rivers or even small ponds. It is believed that the Krathongs carry away sins and bad luck, and the wishes that have been made for the new year due to start. Indeed, it is the time to be joyful and happy as the sufferings are floated away.
The festival starts in the evening when there is a full moon in the sky. People of all walks of life carry their Krathongs to the nearby rivers. After lighting candles and joss-sticks
and making a wish, they gently place the Krathongs on the water and let them drift away till they go out of sight.A Beauty Queen Contest is an important part of the festival and for this occasion
it is called "The Noppamas Queen Contest". Noppamas is a legendary figure from the Sukhothai period. Old documents refer to her as the
chief royal consort of a Sukhothai Kng named "Lithai". Noppamas was said to have made the first decorated Krathong to float in the river on the occasion.In Bangkok, major establishments such as leading hotels and amusement parks organise their Loy Krathong Festival and the Krathong contest as mojor annual function.
For visitors to Thailand, the Loy Krathong Festival is an occasion not to be missed. the festival is listed in the tourist calendar. Everyone is invited to take part and share the joy and happiness.
Songkran
Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. At this time, people from the rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus, when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a deserted city.
Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. At this time, people from the rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus, when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a deserted city.
The values for community is to provide the opportunity to create unity in the community such as to jointly acquire merits, to meet each other and to enjoy the entertaining events. And for the society value is to create concern upon environment with cooperation such as to clean houses, temples, public places and official buildings. Thais value the religion bye means of merits acquisition, offerings alms to monks, Dhamma Practice, listening to sermon and monks-b
athing.
Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck.
The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom for the Thai community, society and religions. The value for family is to provide the opportunity for family members to gather in order to express their respects to the elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of th
eir parents and grandparents and to present them gifts including making merits to dedicate the result to their ancestors. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.
athing.Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck.
The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom for the Thai community, society and religions. The value for family is to provide the opportunity for family members to gather in order to express their respects to the elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of th
eir parents and grandparents and to present them gifts including making merits to dedicate the result to their ancestors. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.
In the afternoon, after performing a bathing rite for Buddha images and the monks, the celebrants both young and old, joyfully splash water oon each other. The most-talked about celebration takes place in the northern province of Chiang Mai where Songkran is celebrated from April 13 to 15. During this period, people from all parts of the country flock there to enjoy the water festival, to watch the Miss Songkran Contest and the beautiful parades.
The festival of the Illminated Boat Procession or "Lai Reua Fai" in Thai and "Lai Heua Fai" in local dialect is an ancient tradition of northeastern people. In the past, the festival was held in several provinces in this region, later only some provinces still proserve this tradition especially Nakhon Phanom Province where the annual event draws visitions from different directions. It has end of Buddhist Lent.
Originally, the boats were made of banana logs or bamboo but modern versions can be made of wood or synthetic materails. A boat's length was about 8 to 10 meters. Inside the boat, there were sweets, steamed-sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves (Khao Tom Mud) and other offerings while the outside of the boat was decorated with flowers, joss-sticky, candles and lamps. At night the fire boa
ts were launched on the Mekong River and illuminated in a spectacular display.
The festival of the Illuminated Boat Procession takes place at the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat or Ork Phansa (usually some time during October). On this occasion, residents of several villages will jointly observe Ork Phansa by launching intricatedly decorated little boats on the Mekong River when the night falls. Boat racing and a wax castle procession are also included in the festival. The event was said to have carried down from several generations as a means to worship Lord Buddha who, according to Buddhist legend, returned to earth after completing his 3-month mission in heaven.
Meanwhile, the ceremony of launching fire boats will usually be performed in the evening before
the sunset. Buddhist monks will be invited to chant, give precepts and deliver a sermon. However, the participants must bring joss-sticks and candles to take part in a religious rite. As soon as the sun's rays disappear, the boats will be lit and launched on the Mekong River to worship Lord Buddha.
At this time, in the middle of the Mekong River, light in various shapes from the floating boats can be seen from a long distance and this is considered as a significant symbol to uphold Buddhism. The event brings about happiness to all Buddhists while foreign visitors will enjoy watching a marvelous illuminated display.
Originally, the boats were made of banana logs or bamboo but modern versions can be made of wood or synthetic materails. A boat's length was about 8 to 10 meters. Inside the boat, there were sweets, steamed-sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves (Khao Tom Mud) and other offerings while the outside of the boat was decorated with flowers, joss-sticky, candles and lamps. At night the fire boa
ts were launched on the Mekong River and illuminated in a spectacular display.The festival of the Illuminated Boat Procession takes place at the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat or Ork Phansa (usually some time during October). On this occasion, residents of several villages will jointly observe Ork Phansa by launching intricatedly decorated little boats on the Mekong River when the night falls. Boat racing and a wax castle procession are also included in the festival. The event was said to have carried down from several generations as a means to worship Lord Buddha who, according to Buddhist legend, returned to earth after completing his 3-month mission in heaven.
Meanwhile, the ceremony of launching fire boats will usually be performed in the evening before
the sunset. Buddhist monks will be invited to chant, give precepts and deliver a sermon. However, the participants must bring joss-sticks and candles to take part in a religious rite. As soon as the sun's rays disappear, the boats will be lit and launched on the Mekong River to worship Lord Buddha.At this time, in the middle of the Mekong River, light in various shapes from the floating boats can be seen from a long distance and this is considered as a significant symbol to uphold Buddhism. The event brings about happiness to all Buddhists while foreign visitors will enjoy watching a marvelous illuminated display.
The Death Railway Bridge
The world-famous railway bridge over the River Kwai is in Kanchanaburi province about 130 kms west of Bangkok. The bridge is well-known all over the world because almost half a century ago about 16,000 Allied POWs died while building the "Death Railway" to Burma. The prisoners were forced by the Imperial Japanese Army in the World War II to build a strategic railway through the disease ridden jungle and treacherous rivers of the province.
The railway was built with the strategic of Burma and other Asian countries to the west. The construction began on September 16, 1942 and the materials for the bridge were said to have be
en brought form Java and assembled here. It was estimated that the construction would take five years to link Thailand and Burma by rail, but the Japanese army forced the POWs to complete the 415-km railway in just 16 months but the bridge was in use for only 20 months before the Allies bombed it in 1945.
Apart from the horrifying death toll of the POWs during the construnction, it is believed that about 100,000 coolies, many from Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia also lost their lives.
After the end of World War II, the Allied forces placed the remains of the dead to rest in two war cemeteries near the site of the bridge. Every year during the first week of December, there is a light and sound presentation detailing the construction and the bombin
g of the historic railway bridge by the Allied forces. It is a popular event with Thai and foreign visitors. During the fair, a constant stream of visitors flow to Kanchanaburi. River Kwai Bridge Week KanchanaburiNovember 23 - December 5,2001
Bringing back to life a piece of history during World War II, the presentation on the Bridge of the River Kwai is scheduled for 11 nights. Highlights include archaeological and historical exhibitions, traditional entertainment, stalls selling local products, rides on a vintage train, and a light-and-sound presentation at the bridge every night.
The world-famous railway bridge over the River Kwai is in Kanchanaburi province about 130 kms west of Bangkok. The bridge is well-known all over the world because almost half a century ago about 16,000 Allied POWs died while building the "Death Railway" to Burma. The prisoners were forced by the Imperial Japanese Army in the World War II to build a strategic railway through the disease ridden jungle and treacherous rivers of the province.
The railway was built with the strategic of Burma and other Asian countries to the west. The construction began on September 16, 1942 and the materials for the bridge were said to have be
en brought form Java and assembled here. It was estimated that the construction would take five years to link Thailand and Burma by rail, but the Japanese army forced the POWs to complete the 415-km railway in just 16 months but the bridge was in use for only 20 months before the Allies bombed it in 1945.Apart from the horrifying death toll of the POWs during the construnction, it is believed that about 100,000 coolies, many from Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia also lost their lives.
After the end of World War II, the Allied forces placed the remains of the dead to rest in two war cemeteries near the site of the bridge. Every year during the first week of December, there is a light and sound presentation detailing the construction and the bombin
g of the historic railway bridge by the Allied forces. It is a popular event with Thai and foreign visitors. During the fair, a constant stream of visitors flow to Kanchanaburi. River Kwai Bridge Week KanchanaburiNovember 23 - December 5,2001Bringing back to life a piece of history during World War II, the presentation on the Bridge of the River Kwai is scheduled for 11 nights. Highlights include archaeological and historical exhibitions, traditional entertainment, stalls selling local products, rides on a vintage train, and a light-and-sound presentation at the bridge every night.
Vegetarian Festival
TrangOctober 16 -25 , 2001 Oringinating in the 19th century, this annual event is conducted by the locals of Chinese descent who engage in a ten-day vegetarian diet. There are merit-making ceremonies at local Chinese temples as well as processions of ascetics performing extraordinary feats
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