I found myself in the midst of the Thai celebration of
Loi Krathong again this year. It is celebrated on the eve of the first full moon in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. Only this time, friends from Vietnam were in Bangkok for a conference and were able to witness this holiday with me firsthand.
The streets were active with those making decorative floats and purchasers searching for one to place on the nearest body of water. Of course, those selling food and trinkets got into the act as well. Never a dull moment.
Last year I only saw decorations made with a base of banana stalks which obviously float on water. This year, however, was the first time I saw decorative floats made of bread! I guess some environmentally-friendly Thais figure the fish prefer to feed on bread more than flowers and banana leaves.
We happened to be close to a neighborhood park in downtown Bangkok with a good-sized lake. It was a beautiful setting for the masses to congregate and float their decorations.
Not only is this a day of celebration that adorns the waterways (paying respect to the water spirits) but also a time to adorn themselves for locally-hosted beauty pageants and talent shows.
