Loy Krathong in Penang

Yesterday was the Loy Krathong Festival. Its a festival that was widely celebrated throughout Thailand. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai Lunar Calendar, in the western calendar this usually falls into Novermber. “Loi” means “to float”. “Krathong” is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk , decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river.

We went to the Wat Buppharam in Perak Road to celebrate the fastival and to join in the crowd. Upon arrival at around 8pm, we saw a few stalls selling those "Krathong". There are variety of shapes and sizes to choose from and style too. Apparently, the new style of "Krathong" has evolved from the traditional tree trunk based to Styrofoam based. So, it looked more plastic-ky than the traditional 1.For a small " Krathong" , it cost for RM 10 and the big 1 ranged from RM 20 to RM30.

The varieties of "Krathong" being sell. From Styrofoam to the traditional banana trunk type.

There are a few events that going on at that moment. Some of them are, the singing stage and another part of the temple, there got a few people dancing. Guess not so appropriate. Hehe.

Singing stage.

A guy-girl dancing away ala Thai.

So, we bought 3 "Krathongs" and waited for the parade to begin. I thought the parade going to begun at 9 pm as stated in the newspaper but i was wrong as the main parade only start at 10.30 which is after the chanting from the monks which was scheduled to be start at 9pm. The chanting process only begun at 9.30pm. Talking about punctuality. Cheeshhh.....

The praying altar

People mountain people sea inside the temple waiting for the chanting process.

Our "Krathong".

Some of the "Krathong" inside the temple. If you buy the "Krathong" inside the temple, each 1 cost RM15.

At ard 10.30pm, the parade finally begin. People followed the parade car to Gurney Drive to release their "Krathong" to the sea.But there are certain rules which you can follow. It`s believed by the the Thai people that before you release your "Krathong", its is advisable that you add a snip of your hair or fingernails into the "Krathong" as this is to bring part of your bodies goes out to the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha and its to bring bad luck out of your bodies. I dunno how true is that, but we just follow the culture. =)

Lighting up the parade car`s candle. Marking its time to start the parade to Gurney.

Some of the parade cars.

We took a short cut to Gurney as we stop halfway to drive there cuz there`s too many people and we`re in a rush too. =P
This is my 2nd time celebrating this Loy Krathong festival but it was my 1st time celebrating in Penang. My 1st time was in Thailand itself.