The Purpose of Life

Loykrathong also sometimes called "Yee Ping" means festival of lights in Thailand. Loykrathong is held on the full moon of 12th month in the traditional Thai Lunar Calendar (usually in Western calendar falls in November).

"Loy" means to float and "Krathong" is a raft about a hand span in diameter, traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although in modern-day versions use specially made bread 'flowers' and styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks and etc.

 Traditional Kratongs

 Modern Krathongs

This year the Loykratong Festival at Wat Pikulthong falls on 1st, 2nd and 3rd November, with the 2nd being the full moon day of the twelfth lunar month. Kelantan also has the same celebration, especially in Tumpat area. The ministry of tourism recognizes it as an attraction for tourist. I went there with my papa and cousins. Many people visit this celebration.

Cars for Procession to River

The Loykratong ritual is simple one. One needs only to light the candles and the joss sticks, make wishes and let it float away with the current of a river or a canal. On that day thousands of people will gather beside the river. With krathong in hands, we light the candle, put some coins in the krathong and silently make a wish and carefully place our krathong on the water surface to release in to the current. We watch intently as the float drifts silently downsteam, hoping that the candle will not go out. Its flame is said to signify longevity, fulfillment of wishes and release from sins. Altogether it is considered a romantic night for couples or lovers. Couple who make a wish together on Loykrathong a thought to stay together in the future.


Hu..hu.., my krathong candle's light gone out after i released it to float on the river. Is it mean my wishes will never come true??? Make me sad...

Sorry for the late update. Have been busy lately. Attending for the course, busy at workplace and doing assignments. Next week have to attend lab practical exam at UMT.

These three weeks, i'm very closed to religion activity, Tod Kethin Samakhi Ceremony (Kathina Ceremony) and Loykrathong Festival. Went there with my family. Let's read and see the summary...

16 October 2009

23 October 2009

Went to wat at Tumpat (forgot the name), but it is located not far from Wat Machimmaram. My papa also go along with us, so surprise because he normally didn't like to 'jalan-jalan'.

Arrived at Wat Pathumvihara at Kg. Balai, Bachok around 4 pm. Just nice for the procession event. So many visitors here.

On Friday, 16 October 2009, i went to Thaibuddist Phraphutthak Sinmingmonggol, Semerak for Kathina Ceremony aka Robe Offering Ceremony.

[Kathina ceremony is Theravada Buddhist Ceremony that held in any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat, which is the three months rain retreat season (Vassa) for the monastic order. It is the time of the year when new robes and other requisites may be offered by the laity to the monks.]

Tonight is Lantern Festival eve. Just came back from kampung, family gathering, had a chicken's BBQ. The children playing with their paper lantern. A light glowing from the lantern, makes the dark sky more beautiful.

Went to Wat Ariyakkhiri at Aril with family. Went for 'Song Rang' festival (i think it's a Thai word i'm not sure), like Ulambana festival also, offering food for the dead. I'm missed the "Sei Rang' festival, can't attended bcoz of work. 'Sei Rang' is like welcoming the hungry ghost when the Gates of Hell opened and Song Rang is like farewell ceremony when sending the hungry ghost to their home.

'Sei Bat'

Praying and burning the offering paper, hell bank note...

The Hungry Ghost Festival of Chinese Taoism is also the Ullambana Festival of Buddhism. Commonly called "Ghost Festival" or "Mid-July Festival", it falls on the every fifteenth of 7th month of the lunar new year. In ancient Chinese folk culture, people believe lunar July is a month for ghosts, something like Western culture's Halloween. It is believed that the gates of hell are thrown open, releasing hungry ghosts to wander on the earth in search of food. So people light up lanterns on roadsides, put lanterns in the river and provide shoes for the convenience of the ghosts. And some people pray for their ancestors to bless later generations. In Taoist culture, grand rituals are held in temples on the Ghost Festival, to pray for good fortunes for the people and for blessing and warding off evil for the ghosts. In Buddhist culture, "Ullam" means "hanging upside down" in Sanskrit; "bana" means "a vessel for holding offerings of food". Buddhists hold that the vessel is capable of removing the extreme suffering of one's deceased parents in purgatory. This originates from the story of "Monk Mulian Saving His Mother" in Buddhist sutras. Buddhist disciples set Ullambana all over the place, symbolizing food provision for the people, adding fortune and longevity to their living parents and releasing deceased parents from sufferings. The Ghost Festival celebrated among ordinary people is amazingly similar to the Hungry Ghost Festival and the Ullambana Festival in terms of spiritual essence. They are all under the theme of "respecting parents, honoring the elderly and blessing the people". These festivals are combined to have formed the present-day Hungry Ghost Festival. Today, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a grand folk festival with cultural richness and features sacrifice offering to the dead and ghosts, suffering relieving and forgiveness of sins. One of the most important customs is floating lanterns on the river. The lanterns are usually made of paper, in the shape of a lotus flower, with a light or candle at the bottom. They are put on the river to drift wherever possible, serving as guiding lights for wandering ghosts. Meanwhile, various activities for ancestor worshiping are held everywhere, such as repentance chanting, giving food to starving ghosts and staging operas for the occasion. Traditional Ghost Festival puts emphasis on filial piety and philanthropy. It no longer has religious meanings, just a festival for remembering ancestors and relatives passed away and for family gathering. For more informations, click: The Legend of The Hungry Ghost Festival Hungry Ghost in Chinese Religion