Mali Home Hostel is so nice, with comfortable big beds and the owners are so friendly, that I am staying doing a workaway for them for couple weeks. They are opening another hostel near the train station, so I am helping there.
Anyway, during the twelfth lunar month, which is the full moon in November, Thai people (and many tourists like me) celebrate the end of the rice harvest, by paying respect to the goddess of the water.
My hosts took me to participate in the Loi Krathong ceremony, which consists of people gathering around rivers, canals, lakes, and releasing lotus flowers, incense, and candles arranged on banana leaves into the waterways.
It is also a time to ask for forgiveness for polluting the waters. Also by releasing the floats, you are supposed to release your anger and frustrations giving you an opportunity to start anew, without carrying any baggage in the New Year.
Every year they also have big parades, fireworks, and music, however this year they only had a small parade as the country is in mourning for the passing of the king.
It was a great experience to see thousands of lotus arrangements with the lighted candles floating down the river.
If your candle stays lit while floating, it means that you will have good luck for the whole year. Needleless to say, my arrangement flipped over as soon as it hit the water.
Oh well…
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| The parade |
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| More parade |
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| The arrangements we bought |
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| Me trying to get my wish come true |
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| One of the canals in the center of town |
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