Thailand Travel Guide

Loy Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, in the western calendar this usually falls into November. The Thai tradition of Loy Kratong started off in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout Thailand. Chiang Mai is the centre of the most activity, followed by Ayutthaya.

A Krathong is a raft about a eight inches in diameter made from a section of banana tree trunk and decorated with decorative folded banana leaves, candles, flowers, and a few lit incense sticks. Offerings of money are also included in many.

Loy Krathong most likely originated in India as the Hindu festival Divali as a tribute to the goddess of the Ganges River for giving life throughout the year.

According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahman festival was adopted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the Lord Buddha. The act of floating away the raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s anger and bitterness, so one can start a fresh life. Some Thais also believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, by honouring and thanking the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha, similar to the Hindu traditions of earlier.

In the north, the festival also involves the launching of thousands of Khom Loy lanterns, in the same symbolic way that the krathongs are let go on the river. The sight of thousands of glowing lanterns ascending into the sky is truly a thing of magic.

Phuket’s Vegetarian festival began in 1825, when a traveling opera company came from China to perform for the miners. The entire opera company fell ill and switched to a strict vegitarian diet, to honor the emperor gods, Kiew Ong Tai Teh and Yok Ong Sone Teh.

The opera company’s affliction soon disappeared. The locals were very much impressed and when the inquired as to how the quick recover came about, they were told that ritual vegetarianism and related ceremonies had led to the cure. This resulted in the local people embracing the faith enthusiastically. This was the birth of the festival which begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month, and continues until the ninth. The belief is that the ritual brings good luck to individuals as well as to the community.

More info available at:

http://www.phuketvegetarian.com/

September - October, 2007 - Thailand Cultural Centre, Bangkok

Hoping to establish Bangkok as a cultural centre for world-class performing arts in Asia, the city will be hosting the International Festival of Dance and Music for the eighth consecutive time this September.

Each year, the star-studded festival presents an impressive programme of dance and musical performances bringing together international artists and dancers from countries around the world like Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, and France, as well as Thai artists and performers, many of whom have gained international fame.

Contact information:
Thailand Cultural Centre
Ratchadapisek Road, Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310.
Tel: +66 (0) 2247 0028
Fax: +66 (0) 2245 7747
E-mail: thaicultural@hotmail.com

Over the past six years, 2002-2007, Hua Hin has hosted an increasingly successful jazz festival. Each year this event, normally held over the first weekend in June, lasts for three days.

From quiet beginnings, it has grown into probably the biggest and most important jazz event in Thailand’s calendar.

Recognition must be given to the organisers and promoters who have toiled endlessly to attract big names. Last year, their efforts were rewarded with the appearance of acts from all over the world, including Bill Bruford, Ibrahim Electric, an international cast from Europe, the US and Cuba and a wealth of up-and-coming Thai talent.

Due to size, the event in 2006 had to be moved to two beach stages and other than some teething problems with access and high tides, the event ran smoothly.

- Tourism Hua Hin

http://www.tourismhuahin.com/

http://www.jazzfestivalhuahin.com/