Loy Krathong.

2009.11.05

Although I didn't go into Bangkok to take part in this festival last week, we made our own krathongs (Pali word for 'raft') in my Thai Civilization class. On the night of the festival, there is a boat parade down most large rivers in Thailand and the festival-goers usually float their own homemade rafts as well.

This one is mine! Ain't it purty? The base is a slice of a banana tree trunk and the leaves are from the same tree. The 3 incense sticks represent the Buddha, the dharma (his teachings), and the sangha (community of monks). You light the incense and the candle, then float it down the river.