Loy Krathong and the Final Countdown

My husband and I, trying our best to make a memorable Krathong.

This weekend is Loy Krathong. The sky displays sporadic bursts of fireworks and tranquilly ascending lanterns. The rivers and ponds are filled with colourful Kratongs most of them personally decorated with flowers and banana leaves.

All the family with our homemade Krathongs on our way to the lake.

The Festival is celebrated on the full moon in November, to honour the water goddess, Phra Mae Khongka. The floating Krathongs traditionally display one candle and three incense sticks.

If you don't have the craft skills, or time to make your own, Loy krathongs are for sale, in the markets, along the riversides and festive areas. — If you don’t have the craft skills, or time to make your own, Loy krathongs are for sale, in the markets, along the riversides and festive areas.

The candle venerates the Buddha with light, while the krathong’s floating, symbolises letting go of all one’s hatred, anger, and defilements. People sometime cut their fingernails or hair and placed the clippings on the krathong as a symbol of letting go of negative thoughts.

The Krathongs are placed in the water after raising it to the forehead and sending blessings to the water goddess, or making a wish. For example, my daughter tells me she is wishing for a Princess Barbie this year,... — The Krathongs are placed in the water after raising it to the forehead and sending blessings to the water goddess, or making a wish. For example, my daughter tells me she is wishing for a Princess Barbie this year,…

During theses celebrations, that can last for about a week (I think we heard the first fireworks about 3-4 days ago), the annual Yee Peng festival takes place in a monastery about 20 minutes outside the city.
10000 lanterns are released each year.

It is a beautiful experience to view multiple lanterns ,tranquilly floating into the heavens...up..up...up. — It is a beautiful experience to view multiple lanterns ,tranquilly floating into the heavens…up..up…up.

More information here about the Yee Peng Festival can be found here:

http://www.yeepenglanna.net/yeepeng_lanna_international.html

Jackie is off in Chiang Rai running a 7km run with the CrossFit crew. It’s not just a run, but an obstacle course. I would liked to have gone but, we have visitors from Germany at the moment and my job is here as hostess and tour guide. I love to share with our friends and family, the beauty of Chiang Mai.

I am really looking forward to getting together with Jackie on Monday to see what results we have come up with over the last, almost 30 days. Not just measurements, but how we feel in general, energetically and emotionally.

These last two days will be challenging. We are convoying with friends to the lantern festival and everyone will be eating, drinking and being merry. So many temptations…Happy Loy Krathong!

Some information about lanterns: