Floating Your Sins Away
Floating Your Sins Away
The Loy Krathong Festival is one of the most colourful celebrations that are held in Bangkok during the month of November the entirety of Bangkok as well as the rest of the country is illuminated and beautifully decorated. As the name implies the festival revolves around krathongs or boats which are lit up using a variety of lights and floated along the countrys numerous waterways.
The festival has its origins in Sukhothai a region located north of Bangkok; it was once one of the most powerful and largest cities in Asia almost 800 years ago. Being a festival of quiet reflection Loy Krathong does not have any definite religious affiliation though many say that the festival is meant to pay homage to Mae Khongkha a mythical Thai water goddess. Whatever the purpose of the festival maybe it is an amazing spiritual experience tourists should not miss out on.
The small boats that are used for the festival are made from the cellulose taken from the trunks of the Banana tree these are then decorated with colourful flowers and banana leaves. Some times participants put in a few coins a lock of hair or a nail clipping to denote the ownership of the krathong. The idea is to put all our bad fortune and misgivings into the tiny boat and literally allow them to float away. This ritual is meant to leave you with a sense of relief and hope for the future so that you may take on the New Year with renewed optimism.
During the Loy Krathong festival that usually falls on a full moon day on the 12th month of the traditional Thai calendar which corresponds to November in the western calendar; large public gatherings and celebrations are organized. Bangkok serviced apartments that put you in touch with this magical celebration as well as other sights and sounds of Bangkok are a great option for long stay travelers.
About the writer: Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing agency that offers integrated Internet marketing solutions and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry. http://www.emarketingeye.com/
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