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Loi Krathong Festival Parade

(Image Courtesy:Nattapol Tangsuphoom) (Image Courtesy: TourismThailand.org)

Loi Krathong is one of the most colorful Thai festival. It is traditionally performed on the full moon night of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls on some day in November. “Loi” means to float. “Krathong” is a lotus-shaped vessel 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. The floating of a Krathong is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess, for dirtying her waters.

Legend has it that Loi Krathong originated during one such festival that took place over 700 years ago in the Sukhothai Kingdom. At this particular festival, Nang Nophamas, daughter of a Brahmin priest serving in the Sukhothai Court, made a Krathong out of a large lotus and offered it to the king and royal family.  And so the time honored festival of Loi Krathong began. Since then, it has been celebrated annually by the Thai people and remains one of the most beautiful traditions.  This tradition is particularly strong in agricultural societies where the river gives life and sustenance in a close bond between man and nature. To the millions of farmers dependant on its source of water, the Chao Phraya is the river of life.

The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water, with different unique characteristics.

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Traditional Dances

Thai traditional dances are one of the truly graceful aspects of the Thai culture. Both the dance and the costumes symbolize the character of the Thai people and strongly reflects Thai perspectives, lifestyle, and sometimes religion.

This year, we will present five exquisite dances: Rabum Dokboa, Manohra Buchayan, Serng Kratip, Serng Sa-wing, Rabum Benjarat.

Rabum Dokboa -- Lotus dance

(Image Courtesy: http://www.banramthai.com/ html/ docboa.html)

The lotus plays a very important part in Thai life. It is the country's most common flower that can be found in ponds, swamps, small canals, roadside ditches, even in jars and on top of pillars in temples. It is traditionally used in sacred worships in Thailand, and therefore is regarded as a flower of good luck. The flower's rich symbolism has embellished Thai literature since ancient times. The lotus is associated with heavenly beings. Many Brahman goddesses have lotus blooms in their hand when portrayed in paintings. A variety of water-lilies share the same Thai name as the lotus. This dance describes the beauty of eight kinds of Thai lotus.

Manohra Buchayan -- Dance of the myth princess

(Image Courtesy: Krisda Phew-on, 2002 )

This dance is part of an elaborate dance-drama consisting of six scenes telling a story of fabled love between Manohra, a mythical being, half bird and half human, and Prince Suthon, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Panchala. Manohra was captured and presented to Prince Suthon as his wife. With her beauty and intelligence, Manohra quickly became the most lovable Princess and the jewel of the kingdom. Until one day when the Prince was away at war, Manohra was accused by a jealous court counselor that she would cause a great evil that would soon fall upon the King, his family, and the entire kingdom.  It was then decided that she must be sacrificed by fire to prevent the misfortune from happening. In this scene, Manohra asked the King and the Queen's permission to put on her wings for the last time and danced a farewell dance. In the last movement, she leapt into the air, and took flight to her home in the deep jungles and mountains.

Serng Kratip --The move with sticky rice basket    

Serng Sa-wing – Fisher folk dance

(Image Courtesy: http://www.banramthai.com/ html/suengsawing.html)

Serng Sa-wing is a local folk dance in one of the Northeastern province, Kalasin. The dance imitates the movements of fishermen in the local areas by using a “Sa-wing”, one of the fish catching equipment used in the northeast. The dance reflects the life of the people in an agriculture-based society who dance to entertain themselves during the harvest season. The movements and the fast rhythm music are choreographed by Thailand’s Department of Fine Arts.

Rabum Benjarat – Dance of the five gems

(Image Courtesy: http://www.somapadance.org/)

Thailand is well known for her precious stones and the Thai people love to adorn themselves with objects made from pieces of those gems. Five out of nine of these gems are further credited with the power of bringing good fortune to the wearer. They are diamond, ruby, emerald, topaz and blue sapphire. These are known collectively as Benjarat (the five gems). A dance has been created in which the dancers wear costumes of the colors of the Benjarat. Besides its beautiful movements and music, the dance also helps familiarize the audience with these colors.

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Thai classical music solo

(Image Courtesy: TourismThailand.org)

Thai musical instruments can be divided into four groups according to those indicated the action for playing various instruments, namely Khryang Ditt (plucked instruments), Khryang Sii (bowed instruments), Khryang Tii (hit or beaten instruments) and Khryang Paw (woodwind instruments). Khim is featured in this show. The Khim is a hammered dulcimer made of wood and trapezoidal in shape, with numerous brass strings. It is played with two flexible bamboo sticks and is used as both a solo and ensemble instrument.  Khim is originally form China and was introduced to Thailand over a century ago by Chinese merchants.  The instrument had been modified to produce a significantly softer sound.

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