Loi Krathon is here! It's a holiday celebration throughout Thailand, but nowhere so elaborate as here in Chiang Mai. Folks travel here from all over Asia, especially Japan, to celebrate this honoring of the Water Gods. Would you believe I made that Krathon (picture on the left above)!? Today was the last day of our Thai language class, and after class Petchara, the Director of the school, instructed us in the creation of this beautiful offering.
We wrapped the base of the Krathon (a round from a banana tree) with banana leaves, and then learned two different fold-styles to create the "boat". Surprise, surprise that Mieko (from Japan and experienced in Origami) made two in the time each of the rest of us made one. Tonite Annick (from French Belgium) and I will go to the Mae Ping River, and along with countless others. We'll light the incense and candle, add a coin, a piece of hair and piece of fingernail, and launch the Krathon while giving thanks to the River for the gift of water and asking for forgiveness for all the ways we haven't respected her throughout the year.
The festivities are well under way. For days now, firecrackers and fireworks galore have been set off, as well as huge rice paper laterns sent afloat with fire, hundreds already; this weekend there will be thousands of them! I was surprised last night to find roads near my guesthouse blocked off and a stage already set up with speeches (including the mayor of Chiang Mai) and performances. For weeks now people have shared that the holiday is on the 24th (Saturday night, the Full Moon), but I had no idea it lasted for five days.
Tomorrow night will be a 3-hr parade ---- from the sounds of it, it will make the Rose Bowl Parade look like small potatoes. Sunday more of everything. I postponed my travels further north and across the border of Myanmar until Monday (instead of today's planned departure) in order to participate in the festivities.
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