By Itsarin Tisantia
This year’s Loy Krathong Festival will be held on November 6. On this special occasion, Thais will gather throughout the kingdom to float their buoyant, handmade krathongs and to enjoy many activities held in celebration of Loy Krathong Day.
This week’s Exercises takes a look at some of the activities arranged to mark this year’s Loy Krathong Day.
On November 6, the moon will be full and Thai people will enjoy celebrating Loy Krathong Day. During this popular festival, small rafts, or krathongs, will be seen floating in waterways throughout the county, while a variety of other festivities will also be held.
FUN IN AYUTTHAYA
Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best places for travellers to celebrate Loy Krathong.
Ayutthaya’s provincial authorities each year hold Loy Krathong activities at several major venues, such as the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center, the Monument of King Naresuan the Great, and four main corners in central Ayutthaya. At these sites, there will be krathong decoration contests, beauty queen contests, cultural performances and other interesting traditional activities.
COLOURFUL NIGHT
Provincial authorities in cooperation with private sectors in Sukhothai welcome local and foreign tourists to mark Loy Krathong Day at the Sukhothai Historical Park.
Apart from dazzlingly decorated krathongs, the province will entertain visitors with many types of fireworks, especially the province’s handmade fireworks called fai paniang, the lights of which appear in the sky in the shape of flowers seen in different layers. Traditional khon performances will also be held.
LANNA LANTERNS
Northerners and nearby residents shouldn’t miss out on Loy Krathong celebrations held in central Chiang Mai.
On Loy Krathong Day every year, local residents gather to launch traditional Yee Peng lanterns to the sky. Authorities in Chiang Mai will also hold handmade krathong decoration contest and other Lanna cultural activities.
Exercises
Read the story. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. Tourists can release Yee Peng lanterns in Ayutthaya.
……………….
2. The Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center is located in Chiang Mai.
……………….
3. This year’s Loy Krathong Day falls on November 16.
……………….
4. A traditional khon performance can be seen at the Sukhothai Historical Park on Loy Krathong Day.
……………….
Vocabulary
- buoyant (adj): able to float in water
mark (v): to celebrate or officially remember an event that is considered important
waterway (n): a river, canal, etc. along which boats can travel
dazzlingly (adv): very brightly and impressively
