LOI KRATHONG SAI ON THE PING RIVER

LOI KRATHONG SAI ON THE PING RIVER
Night of A Thousand Floating Lanterns
November 23 – 27, 2007
At the Rattanakosin Bridge (Sapan Sompot Krung Rattanakosin 200-Year Bridge), Tak province

 

As the full moon of the twelfth lunar month (usually in mid-November) lights up the night sky, throughout the Thai kingdom, hundreds of thousands of ornately-decorated krathong or traditional banana leaf floats are set adrift in rivers and waterways in a spell-binding ritual called "Loi Krathong" - the 'festival of lights". This is one of the Kingdom's oldest and best-preserved traditions.

Krathong floats in the shape of lotus blossoms are most popular and are made from materials easily found in each locality. Loi Krathong customs and traditions reflect local beliefs and cultural evolution and interesting regional variations can be seen. In Tak province, the banana-leaf floats are replaced by coconut shells which are threaded together and launched simultaneously so they appear as long chains of hundreds of glittering lights on the Ping River, hence the origin of its name, "Loi Krathong Sai".

There are various accounts about the origins of Loi Krathong. However given the river-based culture that forms the foundation of the traditional Thai way of life, it is widely believed that these are offerings made to Mae Khongkha - Mother of Waters in an act of appeasement. Many also believe that by setting adrift the krathong, one symbollically casts away one's grief, misery and ill-fortunes.

MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT TO www.tatnews.org/

Special Promotion BANGKOK FEST & FUN

Special Promotion
BANGKOK FEST & FUN
From now to November 30, 2007

As part of the ongoing Bangkok Fest & Fun campaign, tourists visiting Bangkok between now and December 2007 can purchase a Bangkok Fest Mileage Card and shop at various outlets, becoming eligible to take part in a lucky draw to win 80-baht’s weight worth of gold* (equivalent to roughly 880,000 baht). To be eligible for the draw, tourists simply have their Bangkok Fest Mileage Card stamped and validated at various tourist spots around the city.

Each card costs only nine baht and is available from more than 1,200 branches of Thailand Post Co., Ltd. nationwide, until 30 November 2007.

Proceeds from the sale of the cards will be donated to The Chaipattana Foundation, founded by His Majesty King Bhimibol Adulyadej of Thailand, and Friends in Need (of “PA”) Volunteers Foundation Thai Red Cross.

* 'Baht' is a traditional measure for weighing precious metals used by Thai jewellers and is the weight on a 'baht' coin. One 'baht' is equivalent to 15 grammes

IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change.
Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.

Contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Email: info@tat.or.th
Website: www.tat.or.th
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines)
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines)

FOR EVENT INFORMATION,
please call 1672.
Address:
1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee
Bangkok 10400
Thailand

Kathin Culture & Ceremony in Thailand

As the monsoons in Thailand retreat, monks are free to move from place to place and are allowed to receive new robes in a presentation ceremony called Thot Kathin. Besides robes, kitchen equipment, financial contribution, building material and Buddhist literature is also presented at Thot Kathin. This presentation ceremony is an annual one.

     In Thai language Thot means making an offering to a monk and Kathin means embroidery frame. In the old days, rags were collected from dead bodies in the jungle and the embroidery frame was used to sew the yellow robes which monks wear.

     In Thailand, Buddhist people believe the Thot Kathin ceremony as the most significant form of merit making next to ordination of a close kin. Therefore, once in a lifetime every Thai Buddhist looks for an opportunity to sponsor the Kathin ceremony which involves a lot of time, money and efforts. However, an advance booking has to be made with the temple otherwise the chances to be the sole sponsor for the Kathin ceremony will not be possible. However, those who can not be sole sponsors can take part in a ceremony known as Kathin Samakki or United Kathin.

     People taking part in Kathin ceremony are known to travel hundreds of kilometers by bus, train, boat and planes to present new robes and other gifts to monks in remote corners of Thailand or other countries where Buddhist temples are present. People use this opportunity to earn merit for themselves and enjoy a holiday away from the humdrum of their regular lives.

     In Thailand during the Thot Kathin period, one can see processions traveling all over the country. Any and everyone is welcome to take part in the procession. All one has to do is enclose a small amount of money in a white envelope to qualify.

sourec http://www.thailandbuddy.com

The Cities in Thailand (Ayutthaya)

:: General Information Ayutthaya: The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, is one of Thailand's historical and majestic highlights. Serving as the Thai capital for 417 years (1350 1767: Kingdom of Ayutthaya), it was once glorified as one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. During the 17th century, most foreign visitors to Ayutthaya, traders or diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. The map of Ayutthaya published in 1691 by Simon de la Loubere in Du Royaume De Siam is proof of such recognition. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached its apex in terms of sovereignty, military might, wealth, culture, and international commerce in the 16th century when the Kingdoms territory was extended far beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Ayutthaya even had diplomatic relations with Louis XIV of France and was courted by Dutch, Portuguese, English, Chinese and Japanese merchants. Visitors can explore and appreciate Thai history in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, which is situated only 86 kilometers north of Bangkok. Visitors to Ayutthaya can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island surrounded by Maenam Chao Phraya, Maenam Pa Sak and Maenam Lopburi. More importantly,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991. The Past The Kingdom of Ayutthaya was built and developed in leaps and bounds. The ruins in Ayutthaya that survived the test of time embody both the glorious and ignominious stories of the Kingdom. This ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, had thirty three kings of different dynasties and reached its peak in the middle of the18th century. A magnificent city with three palaces and over 400 magnificent temples on an island threaded by canals Ayutthaya was truly an impressive city that attracted both Europeans and Asians. After a 15-month siege the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was conquered and completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. When King Taksin the Great finally liberated the Kingdom, a new dynasty was established and the capital was moved to Thonburi. The seal of Ayutthaya depicts a conch on a pedestal tray placed in a small castle under a Mun tree. According to legend, King U-Thong, founder of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, discovered a beautiful conch buried in the ground being prepared for the establishment of the seat of his Kingdom. Consequently, he had a tiny castle built to house the shell. Hence, the provincial seal. The Present Today, there are but groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history. The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who had limited their visit to Bangkok, similarities may be noted with the riverside Wat Arun, an 18th-century structure that was built in the so-called Ayutthaya style, a melding of Sukhothai Buddhist influences and Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs. Ayutthaya is administratively divided into 16 districts: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ban Phraek, Bang Ban, Bang Pahan, Bang Pa-in, Amphoe Bang Sai, Bang Sai, Lat Bua Luang, Maha Rat, Nakhon Luang, Phachi, Phak-Hai, Sena, Tha Rua, Uthai and Wang Noi.

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Khom http://www.visitthailandnow.blogspot.com