October 29, 2020
Cultural Loy Krathong Festival Celebrated at AU with “Green & Clean Concept”
The festive Loy Krathong Tradition was cerebrated among the AU community members not only to preserve the highly valuable cultural heritage and the long-practiced precious custom, but with the environmental concern with the “Green and Clean” practice. To achieve this noble mission, individuals are encouraged to create their old Kratongs made only from biodegradable materials to instill in all members their responsibility of keeping the environments and surroundings not only “Green but but alo Clean”
The extraordinarily colorful event was fun-filled and awe-inspiring; entertaining all participants especially the international students who greatly enjoyed and appreciated the unique Thai Festival.
Foreign students from Myanmar, China and Cambodia cheerfully and actively joined in the occasion by singing the “Loy Krathong Song in Thai Version”
Workshop on how to create the Krathongs
The traditional festive event featured “How to Make the Krathong Session” during which the Office of the Thai Art and Culture’s staff demonstrated the Krathong creating methods using only the biodegrading materials: banana plant chunks, leaves and fresh flowers. A number of interested individuals and several curious international students observed and joined the hands-on practice; learning to appreciate the arts of the Krathong making.
Thai Desserts, Sweets Juice Offered for Sampling.
To enhance the authentic celebrative Thai ambience and joyful atmosphere, certain booths were set up to offer the Thai traditional massage and decorative & ornamental items like the pearl necklaces, Thai products and other booths offered a variety of exquisite & original Thai desserts & sweets and juice for tasting.
Exhibition of Thai Traditional Games
To further add the fun of the celebrative occasion, a number of Thai traditional games were exhibited to revive and preserve the old or originality of the Thai games, showcased by the AUSO and Center for Sports and Fitness staff, while the Security Department’s staff performed Tom-Tom Procession together with the regional musical instruments which greatly entertained and stunned the joyful audiences.
Celebration with Charitable Activities
Apart from the fun activities, Martin De Tours School of Management and Economics creates a joint program with the Government Saving Bank known as the Aomsin Yuwapat Rak Tin” to support the local community in terms of funding and developing of local products. At the same time the proceeds received from the “Share Box” for the Krotongs’ costs will go towards the flood victims in Thailand.
The colorful and elegant festive event gave students a pleasant and refreshing break prior to the start of the approaching new semester when students will shortly return to the on-site classes on campus after a long period of absence during on-line study mode due to the outbreak.
Organized by the Assumption University Student Organization (AUSO) in close collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs, the festival took place on October 29, 2020 at the elegant Salathai (Thai Pavillion), Suvarnabhmi Campus.
AU management members, administrators, faculty, staff and students clad in stylish Thai national dress, joined by Rev. Bro. Dr. Bancha Saenghiran, President-Rector Magnificus, who led the group to float the Krathongs in the University’s crystal clear lake in a gesture of keeping with the Thai culture & tradition, and humbly paying respect to the River Goddess for blessings and forgiveness.
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Loy Krathong Tradition
Loy Krathong Tradition
Loy Krathong Tradition is a ceremony to honor the Goddess of the river. In Thailand, it is annually held on the full moon day in November. Krathongs are small vessels or cups often made of cut banana stems, leaves containing flowers, candles and joss sticks. They are released into the rivers and left to float downstream. Upon releasing the Krathongs, people ask for forgiveness from the Goddess of the river for polluting her. It is one of the important religious customs in Thailand. During this period, at the end of the rainy season, most areas around the rivers and canals are flooded.
This occurrence sparked an old Thai popular saying: in the 11th lunar month there is flooding and in the 12th lunar month and the (stagnant) flood waters are retreating. This period is a time for rejoicing as the weather is changing for the better. The rainy season is more or less over and the winter or cool season is beginning. The moon is also at its brightest this time of the year. At present, Loy Krathong Tradition is a major celebration in Thailand.
Objectives
The objectives are various depending on different customs and beliefs.
1. To pay homage to the Lord Buddha who descended from the second heaven (where Indra dwells) and where he preached a sermon to his royal mother (after staying in a Buddhist monastery during the Buddhist lent).
2. To pay homage to the Lord Buddha's Foot Print on the bank of the Nammatha River in India.
3. To pay homage to the heavenly Pagoda containing the Lord Buddha's top knot cut off at his self-ordination.
4. To pay tribute to the senior disciple Upakut who found his recluse in the ocean (a belief inherited from Myanmar; the priest had supernatural powers in conquering the God of Evil).
5. To pay homage to Narai Banthom Sin; Hindu God Vishnu, slumbering in the ocean.
6. To pay homage to God Phaka Prom living in the third heaven.
7. To worship the Goddess Mae Khongkha, the Mother of Water, asking for forgiveness for polluting her.
8. To float one's sufferings away, this practice is similar to the Sin Floating Rite of Brahmin.
9. To ask for blessing.
10. To be reminded of the benevolence of the ancestors.
Loy Krathong Tradition: Expression of Gratitude
Thai people express their gratitude to the Goddess of Water for nourishing their lives by celebrating the Loy Krathong festival. However, depending on beliefs, the Loy Krathong festival is also celebrated to express gratitude to the Lord Buddha or paying homage to the ancestors. To make a long story shorter, it can be said that Loy Krathong Tradition is about expressing gratitude.
Values of Loy Krathong Tradition
1. Family Value: relationships between family members are tightened as family members are celebrating together.
2. Community Value: communities are more harmonious by joining in the Loy Krathong activities.
3. Social Value: raising awareness in water resources conservation.
4. Religious Value: Buddhist practices such as merit making, practicing dharma and listening to sermons are essential parts of Loy Krathong celebration; therefore, they contribute to strengthening religious beliefs.
Activities that should be promoted
1. Clean up the rivers, both before and after Loy Krathong celebration.
2. Perform good deeds, listen to sermons, and practice the dharma.
3. Utilize local bio-degradable materials in making the Krathongs.
4. Promote the proceedings of Krathong parade.
5. Promote alternative activities such as a Krathong Contest, Hot-air Balloon Contest and others. Presently, the Noppamas Queen contest (The daughter of a Brahman priest and a lady at the Court of King Phra Ruang of Sukhothai, who developed a new style of lotus flower which were to be floated on the streaming waters at night to please the King) is a new, but indispensable feature.
6. Release Krathong into the rivers.
7. Release hot-air balloons (mainly practiced in the north).
8. Fireworks are, however, discouraged in order to avoid hurting people or damaging properties.
9. Participatory cultural activities in local communities.
Conclusion
Loy Krathong Tradition has been a part of the Thai culture and way of living for a long time. At the full moon night of the Thai twelfth lunar month (November), Thai people gather at the river banks and ask for blessings and forgiveness from the Goddess of the River by releasing the Krathongs. Thousands of candle lights released at the same time illuminate the river brilliantly and is an eerie but beautiful spectacle.
The traditional custom has become a major attraction for foreign tourists participating in the activities and enjoying Thai tradition and hospitality. However, we should not forget the real message of Loy Krathong : Gratitude to the River Goddess.
