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Project Report on

Loy Krathong festivals

Submitted by Miss Pattariya Pangta Student ID 57003126011

Mr. Channarong WattanaChai Student ID 57003126015 Miss Thippanat Manjit Student ID 57003126019 Miss Chalanda Klaikhamdee Student ID 57003126043 Mr. Chainarong Maharak Student ID 57003126051

Group Computer Education ID 5700312601

This report is part of English for Study Skills (AGE113) subject. Term 2 year of education 2014

Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University

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Preface

This report is a tribute to one of the English for Study Skills code AGE113 , with the aim to learn from the Loy Krathong festivals in which this report was based on a knowledge of the Internet and the Loy Krathong festivals.

User can select this in reporting Loy Krathong festivals because it is interesting. It is used to prepare a discussion. The production hopes the report is useful for leaning.

production teams

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Contents

Page

Loy Krathong History 1

Loy Krathong Festivals 7

Methods to make Kra Thong from banana leaves 10 Loy Krathong Song 13

Bibliography 14

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Loy Krathong History

The ceremony is believed to have originated in the time of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand, and to have been started by Nang Nophamas or Tao Sri Chulalak, the Brahman consort of the King. She was the first person who introduced “Krathongcherm”, the banana leaf krathong in the form of lotus blossom on the festival night. The festival starts in the evening when there is a full moon in the sky. People carry their krathongs to the river and canals. 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. It is believed that krathongs carry away their sins and bad luck, and happiness will come to them. Indeed, it is the time to be joyful and happy as the sufferings are floated away.

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The festival includes a contest of Krathong-making, the Nophamas Queen Contest, local games and performances, entertainment programs and firework displays. The Loy Krathong song contributes to the romantic atmosphere of this occasion. Fireworks and large rafts on the Chao Phraya River, Loi Krathong Festival of Light, Bangkok, November 2004 Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. Loi literally means 'to float,' while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water. Originally, the krathong was made of banana leaves or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. A krathong contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and coins. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate in a few a days and be eaten by fish and other animals. The traditional banana stalk krathongs are

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also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are frowned on, since they are polluting and may take years to disappear. Regardless of the composition, a krathong will be decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense sticks. A low value coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. During the night of the full moon, Thais will float their krathong on a river, canal or a pond lake. The festival is believed to originate in an ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit of the waters. Today it is simply a time to have fun. Governmental offices, corporations and other organizations usually create big decorated rafts. There are also local and officially organised raft competitions, regarding its beauty and craftsmanship. In addition, there are also fireworks and beauty contests during the celebration of the festival. The origins of Loi Krathong are stated to be in Sukhothai, but recently scholars have argued that it is in fact an invention from the Bangkok period.According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama.

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Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot.

People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a raft will bring good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha. The beauty contests that accompany the festival are known as "Nopphamat Queen Contests". According to legend, Nang was a consort of the Sukothai king Loethai (14th century) and she had been the first to float a decorated raft. However, this is a new story which was invented during the first part of the 19th century.

There is no evidence that a Nang Nopphamat ever existed.

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Instead it is a matter of fact that a woman of this name was instead the leading character of a novel released during the end of the reign of King Rama III – around 1850.

Her character was written as guidance for all women who wished to become civil servants.

Kelantan in Malaysia also celebrates the same celebration, especially in the Tumpat area.

The ministry in charge of tourism in Malaysia recognises it as an attraction for tourists. Many people visit the celebration each year.

Yi Peng Thousands of Khom Loi in Mae Cho,Loi Krathong coincides with the (northern Thai) festival known as "Yi Peng".

Due to a difference between the old Lanna calendar and the Thai calendar, Yi Peng is held on a full moon of the 2nd month of the Lanna calendar ("Yi" meaning "2nd" and "Peng" meaning "month" in the Lanna language).

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A multitude of – style (khom loiliterally:"floating lanterns") are launched into the air where they resemble large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the sky.

The festival is meant as a time for tham bun, to make. People usually make khom loi from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air which is trapped inside the lantern creates enough lift for the khom loi to float up in to the sky.

In addition, people will also decorate their houses, gardens and temples with khom fai : intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. Khom thue are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, khom khwae are the hanging lanterns, and khom pariwat which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside.

The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom, where now both Loi Krathong and Yi Peng are celebrated at the same time resulting in lights floating on the waters, lights hanging from trees/buildings or standing on walls, and lights floating by in the sky The tradition of Yi Peng was also adopted by certain.

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Loy Krathong Festivals

Loy Krathong Day is one of the most popular festivals of Thailand celebrated annually on the Full-Moon Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month. It takes place at a time when the weather is fine as the rainy season is over and there is a high water level all over the country.

"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.

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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 occasionit 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.

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The word “Loy” means “to float”, and “Krathong” means lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves. Loy Krathong is, therefore the floating of an illuminated leaf bowl. But nowadays some krathongs are made of coloured paper. A krathong usually contains a candle, three joss sticks, some flowers and coins.

The history of Loy Krathong Festival is slightly obscure. First, it is to ask for apology from the water goddess for having

used and sometimes made rivers and canals dirty. Second, it is to offer flowers, candles and joss sticks as a tribute

to the footprint of Lord Buddha on the sandy beach of the Nammatha River in India.

Third, it is to show gratitude to the Phra Mae Kong Ka or Mother of Water.

Fourth, it is to wash away the previous year’s misfortunes.

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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. Method: Flower 2 Rose Petals

1. Cut banana leaves to approx. 1.5” wide and 6” long 2. Fold 3 petals according the illustrated picture 3. Arranged as terraced lines according to the illustrated

picture as count as 1 level. 4. Attach around the Kra Thong base which is the sliced

banana stalk of approx. 1.5-2” thick. The number of petals shall be more or less depending on the size of its base

5. decorate with flowers, joss sticks and candle.

Folding of petal in this pattern can be

used jointly with other folding patterns in the same piece as desirable or individual idea.

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Method: Pattern 2 Rose Petal 1. Cut banana leaves to approx. 1.5” wide and 6” long 2. Fold 3 rose petals according to the illustrated picture

and arrange in row with appropriate span as desired. The top of the petals and beds should be in the same line to beautiful and orderly look.

3. Use green or black thread to sew in straight line. 4. Fold banana leaves and sew to long enough to cover

around the Kra Thong base and attach to the Kra Thong base with pin and then trim to the same level of its base. The finished Kra Thong is looked like a crown

5. Decorate with flowers, joss sticks and candle.

Folding of petal in this pattern can

be used jointly with other folding patterns in the same piece as desirable or individual idea.

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Method: Pattern 3 Axe 1. Cut banana leaves to approx. 1.5” wide and 6” long 2. Fold 3 petals according to the illustrated picture and

arrange in the same line with appropriate span. It is recommended to fold all the same size for beautiful and orderly look.

3. Use green or black thread to sew in straight line. 4. Fold banana leaves and sew to long enough to cover

around the Kra Thong base and attach to the Kra Thong base with pins and then trim to the same level of its base. The finished Kra Thong is looked like a basin.

5. Decorate with flowers, incense sticks and candle.

Folding of petal in this pattern can be used jointly with other

folding patterns in the same piece as desirable or individual idea.

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Loy Krathong song

November full moon shine Loy Krathong Loy Krathong

And the water is high In the gold river and the Klong

Loy Loy Krathong Loy Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong is here And everybody’s full of cheer

We're together at the Klong Each one floats his Krathong

in the river and we pray We can see a better day

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Bibliography

How to make Krathong. Retrieved February 9, 2015 , from https://www.gotoknow.org/posts/305956.

Jiraya Jamroen. Loy Krathong song. Retrieved February 9, 2015 , from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DBcdJhyfnA.

Loy Krathong Day. Retrieved February 9, 2015 , from http://info.muslimthaipost.com/main/index.php?page

=sub&category=13&id=18328. Loy Krathong Festival. Retrieved February 9, 2015 , from

http://chivalanguage.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-post.html.

Loy Krathong Histor. Retrieved February 9, 2015 , from http://www.smartenglishkid.com/index.php?lay=boardshow&ac=webboard_show&WBntype=1&Category=smartenglishkidcom&thispage=1&No=1238878.

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