YOUR FACE LIT UP

Last week there was a nationwide festival in Thailand called Loy Krathong. It was the first time Id seen the golden lanterns floating up into the sky on masse.

I thought it would be the lanterns in the sky that would be the most beautiful thing about the festival but I was surprised that it wasnt. The thing that struck me the most was the emotion on peoples faces as they let go of their lantern.

It was magical. As people let go of their lantern or their little raft “Krathong” they were figuratively letting go of something else. There was a sense of release and joy. I loved watching the faces of the adults transform into children as they let the lantern go.

The Krathongs or little river rafts are traditionally made of banana tree trunk , but these days they are also made of foam or bread. The foam ones are frowned apon of course because the fish in the river obviously dont eat foam and it takes ages to clean it all up. The bread ones break down or are eaten.

“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 raft will bring good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water” WIKIPEDIA

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