THE LEGEND :
Loy Krathong Festival is
considered to be the prettiest and most peaceable of all the
annual occasions in Thailand. According to the legend, some
even seven centuries ago the daughter of a Brahmin priest -
her name Nang Nophamas, made a decorative float and showed it
to the ruler of the southern Kingdom of Sukhothai. Impressed
by its (and possible, her) beauty, the King had it set down on
the river and since it's not a bad idea to do what your
ruler does, the courtiers followed suit, and the people with
them. So much at least for the legend of origin,. The facts
may be somewhat different, of course. The mention of the
Brahmin priest-official suggests that like other Thai
festivals, this one might have arisen in India, where the
festival of lights which also features ceremonies
involving the floating of decorative vessels take place in the
same quarter of the year.
The most important part of
the occasion in Chiangmai is the making of Krathong both big and
small, their ceremonious parading through the streets of the Northern
Capital and their release onto the Ping River and other waterways. On the
first day, the small Krathong made of banana stems and leaves and
bearing candles, incense sticks, flowers and small coins are carried down to
the river and set afloat, with the intention of...............
Well, what exactly ???????
The anthropologists will
sternly tell you it's a rite to persuade the local serpent-ruler : PHAYA NAK
as he is known in Thailand to halt the monsoon rains, dispel the floods and
return the rivers to their normal tranquil ways. As late as the 19th
century, they inform us, that the TAI in North Vietnam were sacrificing
children with that aim in mind. Some had declared tand believe that PHAYA
NAK is still around and can be seen at certain time in the Mekong River. On
the other hand, a more credible belief is that Krathong floating is an act
of respect and a form of thanks to the Mother of the Waters, MAE KONGKA.
Then again, in somewhat intermediate explanation, we are said to be paying
our respect to the NGEUAK or female water spirits or alternatively to the
PHRA MAHA UPPAKUT - a monk-like being who spends his time meditating in the
river, coming out on his alms rounds on the Wednesday mornings when the moon
is full and generously rewarding those giving food to him. Not to be ignored
is the belief that when you float your Krathong away, you're getting
rid of the year's bad luck - so be careful not to upset your vessel or let
it come back to you or you'll start your new year with the old bad luck as
an extra burden. If you perspicaciously remark that these are rather
confusing beliefs and surely in opposition to the Buddhist teaching about
karma, we'll very probably nod our heads in agreement and go on doing and
believing in all of them - as we have since time immemorial.
