Sukhothai down plays festival

BANGKOK Sukhothai province will not host an elaborate Loi Krathong festival, 10 to 14 November, out of respect for the the passing of the Late His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The actual Loi Krathong festival will be held on the full-moon night of 14 November and residents and visitors can still float ‘krathongs’ on the canals and lakes in and around the historical town.

However, the usual celebrations, fairs, firework displays and beauty contests that are hosted for five days leading up to the full-moon night have been cancelled according to province governor, Piti Kaeo-salapsi.

“Much of the event’s attractions for tourists such as entertaining is deemed in appropriate at a time the nation is grieving,” he told local media.

However, visitors and residents can still float krathongs and light candles, but activities will be toned down.

The province will organise the lighting of 9,999 censer candles at Sukhothai Historical Park to pay respects to the Late King.

In addition, the park’s historical ruins will illuminated and open to visitors to enter and float their krathongs in the evenings from 1800 to 2400, 10 to 14 November.

Entrance fees at Sukhothai Historical Park will be waived for both Thais and foreigners up until 31 January next year.

The Krathong Sai Lai Pratheep 1,000 Duang Festival in Tak will also be toned down, 12 to 14 November. The province is renowned for its special Loi Krathong Sai festival, where candle-lit krathong bowls are launched on the Ping River in a seemingly endless line. The traditional krathong made out of a section of a banana trunk is shaped like a raft or boat, but in Tak the tradition is to float bowls made from coconut shells.

On 12 November, there will be an exhibition of Bhumibol Dam and irrigation projects and a show of Krathong Sai Pratheep Song Thara dating back to the Sukhothai period.

On 13 November, there will be a display to show the Loi Krathong festival history and a show of Loi Krathong during 1973 to 1996 period using banana leaves and trunks for krathong decoration.

On 14 November, locals will launch 9,999 krathong bowls in the Ping River in a solemn ceremony to remember the Late His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej as  part of the nation’s official mourning period that will last a year.

On the sidelines of the event, visitors can view  a Krathong Sai Lai Pratheep history exhibition and a demonstration of how to make a coconut shell and banana leaf krathong.

In Chiang Mai, the Yi Peng Festival will go ahead 12 to 15 November. There will be a giant krathong parade contest (without Nang Noppamas beauty contest and entertainment).

Other activities include floating krathongs, a krathong-making contest, religious rituals, and several other traditional Lanna-style ceremonies.

Pattaya City has cancelled various events including its Loi Kratong Festival (15 November); Pattaya International Fireworks Festival 2016 (25 to 26 November); and Pattaya Countdown (29 to 31 December).