Song Loy Krathong 2009

wan-pen duean sip-sawng
nam gaw nawng dtem dtaling
rao tung-laai chai-ying
sanook gun jing wun loy kratong
loy loy kratong
loy loy kratong
loy krathong kan laew
khaw choen nawngkaew
awk maa ramwong
ramwong wan loy krathong
ramwong wan loy krathong
bun ja song hai rao sukjai
bun ja song hai rao sukjai

Image via Wikipedia

วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง
wan-pen duean sip-sawng
The full moon (of) the twelfth month
น้ำก็นองเต็มตลิ่ง
nam gaw nawng dtem dtaling
as water fills to the banks.
เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง
rao tung-laai chai-ying
We, all men and women,
สนุกกันจริงวันลอยกระทง
sanook gun jing wun loy gratong
really have a good time (on) loy krathong day
ลอย ลอย กระทง
loy loy gratong
Float, float the krathongs
ลอย ลอย กระทง
loy loy gratong
Float, float the krathongs
ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว
loy krathong kan laew
After we’ve floated our krathongs,
ขอเชิญน้องแก้ว
khaw choen nawngkaew
(I) invite (you) my darling
ออกมารำวง
awk maa ramwong
to come out and dance.
รำวงวันลอยกระทง
ramwong wan loy krathong
Ramwong (on) loy krathong day
รำวงวันลอยกระทง
ramwong wan loy krathong
Ramwong (on) loy krathong day
บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ
bun ja song hai rao sukjai
(Making) merit will give us happiness
บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ
bun ja song hai rao sukjai
(Making) merit will give us happiness

Venue :
Tha Phae Gate, banks of Ping River, Chiang Mai Municipal Office, Chiang Mai

Highlights :

An amazing procession of hanging lanterns, Krathong design contest, Miss Yi Peng beauty contest, light and sound presentation in Ping River, the ancient Thai Lanna Krathong activities, local cultural performances, and local handicrafts market in Lanna style.

Contact :

- TAT Chiang Mai, Tel : 66 (0) 5324 8604, 66 (0) 5324 8607
Website : www.tourismthailand.org

The festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Deepavali as thanksgiving to the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year. According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha (พระแม่คงคา).