Loy Krathong Festival

Loy Krathong Festival

History of Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong is the most beautiful festivals that takes place in Thailand. This is celebrated on the full moon in November. The word loy means to float, and a krathong is a banana leaf cup. People place a candle and incense sticks in their krathongs and then float them on a local river or pond. As they push away their krathong, they ask for forgiveness in polluting the waterways and also for good luck in the coming months.
The history of Loy Krathong is rather obscure. Some believe that Krathong was first created by Tao Sri Chulalak or Nang Noppamas in Sukothai. Others overlook its origin yet focus on the purposes of the ritual: to pay respect to the Goddess of the Water showing their gratitude on their plentiful use of water and ask for forgiveness in the ensuing pollution. Floating the beautiful Krathong away, which is the key activity in Loy Krathong, also refers to flying away misfortune and bad things in the past and asking for good luck in the future. Although it is not a national holiday, many activities other than floating Krathong, are conducted in this festival, such as, contests of Krathong-making and Noppamas beauty pageants, local games and performances and fireworks.

If you are in the North of Thailand, you can join this spectacular occasion at Chiang Mai where it is specifically called Yee Peng -floating of lanterns into the sky. Or you can go to Tak where a line of thousand glittering lights are seen on the Ping River . When looking closer, you see that Krathongs here are made of coconut shells, threaded together to make chain and that's the story of Loy Krathong Sai. Moreover, this year you can see Loy Krathong Sai made from banana trunk in Samut Songkram too. For sure, the festival in old cities is so famous and attracts a herd of visitors. Glory and ancientness of the kingdom is utterly alive in Phao Thian Len Fai in Sukhothai. In Bangsai District, Ayutthaya, you can feel the grandeur of Loy Krathong Tam Pratip and long boat race at Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre of H.M. queen Sirikit of Thailand. Staying at Bangkok you never miss a shot as well. Popular places for Loy Krathong evening include Chao Phraya River, Rama IIX Bridge, Santichaiprakan Park on Phra Artit Road, Benjasiri Park or Queen's Park on Sukhumvit Road, Benjakiti Park on Ratchada Pisek Road and other waterways and universities.

The Statue of Sunthorn Phu

The Statue of Sunthorn Phu

The statue of Sunthorn Phu is located in the village of Ban kram, Klaeng district, Rayong Province. There is the birthplace of his father. I went there by car. It is far from Bangkok about 220 km. it’s about 3 hours to reach there. When I arrived there I saw the monument had changed, in the past there had the wall around the monument and there had the small shop where sells souvenir and fable but now there don’t have it. When I saw the monument it makes me surprised to see the change. I don’t go there since I was 12 years old.

When I arrived I worshiped the statue of Sunthorn Phu first and then I took a walk around the monument and took some photos.

The statue of Sunthorn Phu is located at the high knoll, and the statue of Phra Apaimanee is below.

The pond is located at the middle of the monument and inside the pond there has the statue of Nang Yak and mermaid.

This is the statue of Sudsakorn; it is located in front of the monument. Sudsakorn is son of Phra Aphaimani and a mermaid. He had Manilmangkorn as his vehicle.

This is the pavilion; inside the pavilion, there has many poems which are engrave on the wall and the other wall it has the history of Sunthorn Phu.

The History of Sunthorn Phu

Sunthorn Phu is Thailand's best-known poet. His most popular single work is Phra Aphai Mani. His common name is from a part of his Royal given name Phra Sunthorn Vohara (พระสุนทรโวหาร), combined with his birth name, Phu.
A commoner, Sunthorn Phu broke from tradition by writing in more ordinary language and about less-elevated topics than previous writers.
He was born during the king I of Ratanakosin Era. On the 26th of June, in 1786 he was behind the palace where the Bangkok - noi train station was located. His father was from Rayong province. His mother was from another province. Sunthorn Phu was born after Bangkok city was established. His father and his mother divorced, and then his father became a monk at Bangrum temple. where he was originally from and his mother went to serve princess as a wet nurse. Sunthorn Phu had an opportunity to work in the palace with his mother. Sunthorn Phu felt in love with a lady in the palace. Her name was Jun who was related to the Royal family. They were punished and arrested because their relationship violated the traditional social order. When the king died they were pardoned. Following the pardon, Sunthorn Phu went to visit his father who lived in Rayong province. While he was returning to Rayong he wrote a poem called “Nirat Muang Grang " which became one of his most famous poems . The poem described his journey with great detail. He wrote the poem for his fiancé, Jun. After he returned to the palace in Bangkok he married Jun and they had a son named "Pat" and appointed court poet, before becoming an alcoholic, being left by his wife, and, around 1821, being jailed after a fight. The couple was not married long. After Sunthorn Phu's love affair with another woman, the couple divorced and went their separate ways. This was the first of many marriages ending in divorce. The wife whom he loves the most was Jun.
During Rama II era, the king was very pleased with Sunthorn Phu. The king was so pleased with Sunthorn Phu, in fact, that he was promoted to be Khun Sunthorn Voharn. In King Rama III monanchy, Sunthorn Phu made one detrimental mistake by correcting the king's poem in the presence of the king and King's officers. Sunthorn Phu was stripped of his farmer title as punishment. He entered the Buddhist priesthood but eventually left the priesthood to become a merchant. King Rama IV's princess read his poems called “Phra Apai Manee ". She was very pleased and she asked him to finish the poem. The King Rama IV promoted him to Phra Sunthorn Voharn. He spent the rest of life at peace until he died in 1855. He left behind a legacy of poems that have become famous over time because they describe Thai history. Thai people now study his poems to learn about the history of their country. His poetic works were honored by UNESCO.
He began the epic poem, Phra Aphai Mani in prison, and published it in installments over the next 20 years. The epic tale follows the title character, Prince Aphai Mani, a Byronic hero, in his romantic adventures throughout ancient Thailand.
Sunthorn's nine Nirats, which record his associations between memories and sites he visited, are also popular.
He was out of favor during the reign of Rama III (1824–1851), whose writings he had once criticized. At one point he was driven by poverty to become a monk.

Ta-Krud

Dear Sir,

I have seen the news on www. nationmedia about Ta-Krud. on tge statement " Teera urged the Fine Arts Department to exploit the potential of the Ta-Krud amulet as a fashion accessory and souvenir." I agree with the statement because Ta-Krud is sacred. it can protect from bad things and we should spread it to other people to get it. Thai people believe that Ta-Krud can protect them from bad things, ghosts. However, Ta-Krud should be souvenir of Thailand

Your sincerely,

Kamonwan Keeratimak