Loy Krathong postponed while the country is in mourning for the late Supreme Patriarch
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced that it will postpone its annual celebrations for the Loy Krathong festival in honor of the late Supreme Patriarch.
Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT deputy governor for domestic marketing, said that festivities will be suspended as the country is in mourning.
Due to the mourning period that has been extended until the 23rd of November the festival that was due to take place on November 17th has been postponed.
The new date for the festival that is normally celebrated annual on the full moon of the 12th lunar month by people floating decorated krathongs on rivers, ponds and canals will be discussed by the TAT when the mourning period is over.
The Supreme Patriarch had been suffering from ill health since 2002 when he was admitted to Chulalongkorn Hospital. He had his one hundredth birthday on October 3rd and more than three thousand people came to the hospital to sign the well-wishers book. He was born on October 1913 in Kanchanaburi province and was formerly known as Charoen Gajavatra. He completed Prathom 5 at the age of 14, he was ordained as a novice at Wat Devasangaram (Wat Nua), Kanchanaburi.
A year later, Novice Charoen was accepted by Somdet Phra Vajirananavong, the abbot of Wat Bowon Niwet to undertake Buddhist studies, completing the basic curriculum as well as learning the Pali language. His Majesty the King bestowed the title of Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara ( a special honour in the Thai monastic hierarchy reserved for monks who excelled in Vipassana meditation that had not been granted in over one hundred and fifty years) to Phra Sasanasobhon in 1972. The World Buddhist Supreme Conference last year bestowed the title of the Supreme Holiness of World Buddhism on the Supreme Patriarch during a Buddhist summit in Japan, attended by Sangha leaders from 32 nationals worldwide.
Date: 17 November, 2013
Venue: Nationwide
Loi Krathong festival is a Thai tradition, which has been conducted for a long time ago. Loi Krathong has been held since the middle of the eleventh to the middle of the twelfth lunar month, which is a great flood season, especially on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. When the moon shines at night, it makes the rivers clear and beautiful , which is suitable for floating Krathong. Nowadays, Thai people usually prepare natural materials to make Krathong. For example, they use banana trunk and lotus to make beautiful krathong then put stick candle, incense stick, and flowers in krathong. They always ask for good luck in the future and forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha. At the temples and tourist places, they held the contest of making krathong and Noppamas beauty pageants contest. There are many entertainment shows and exciting fireworks at night.
Loi Krathong Festival: Bangkok View the illuminated boat procession, Loi Krathong activities as well as illuminated buildings and historical sites on both sides of the Chao Phraya River.
Bang Sai Loi Krathong Tam Prathip Festival: Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Relive the glorious past of Ayutthaya on this atmospheric night. Enjoy the traditional procession of beauty queens from all 4 regions and experience the relaxing surroundings of a floating market demonstration.
Samut Songkhram Loi Krathong : King Rama 2 Memorial Park, Samut Songkhram Province Experience Loi Krathong, which made of banana trunk more than 100,000 pieces, enjoy Thai folk shows, Noppamas beauty pageant and krathong contests, Bang Sai Loi Krathong and offering food to Buddhist monks along the river.
Sukhothai Loi Krathong and Candle Festival : Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province Experience the festival of the Dawn of Happiness city with chandelier lamp parades and fire blast, play small confection cup spark fireworks, enjoy traditional performance, local recreational games and markets.
Tak Loi Krathong Sai Festival: Rattanakosin 200 years Bridge, Tak Province Sightseeing floating 8,000 lanterns parade to be competed along Ping River at Hall of Fame Building where the handicrafts contest is held, shopping One Tumbon One Product or OTOPs and enjoy traditional performances.
Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival: Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai Province Enjoy traditional performance in Lanna style and floating lantern contest, join a demonstration of how to make Krathongs and Yee Peng lanterns.
source: http://www.tatnews.org/eventscalendar/41-event/43-loi-krathong-festival