LOY KRATHONG 2010

LOY KRATHONG

BMA hopes day of happiness will also ease people's tensions
Published: 20/11/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

City Hall is hoping that the annual Loy Krathong Day Sunday will bring happiness to Bangkok residents who have experienced an enormous amount of tension this year.

From the months-long demonstration by anti-government red shirt protesters in the heart of Bangkok, which ended in bloodshed on May 19, to the recent flood disaster which ravaged many communities along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, city dwellers have endured a lot this year.

People are longing for some kind of relaxing, feel-good activity, so the Loy Krathong festival has arrived at exactly the right moment.

"Let's light up your krathong and make a collective wish for the enduring happiness and serenity in our city," Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said in a brief invitation to city residents to take part in the festival.

On this full moon day, hundreds of thousands of Bangkok people will release flower floats bearing candles and incense sticks into the city's rivers and canals. The floats are a humble offering to the goddess of the river, Phra Mae Khongkha, designed to pay respect to her and to seek forgiveness.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has been working on the Loy Krathong celebration for many months to ensure revellers' safety and enjoyment.

Jate Sopitpongstorn, the BMA's spokesperson, said preparations had been focused on three areas: celebration, safety and cleaning up.

Major landmarks along the Chao Phraya between Krungthep Bridge and Thon Buri Bridge have been decorated with lights.

The official BMA-hosted Loy Krathong celebration, called "Colour of the River", will kick off at 6pm tomorrow under the Rama VIII Bridge on the Thon Buri side of the river, Mr Jate said. As well as the krathong decorations and nang noppamat beauty pageant contests, revellers will be able to enjoy shopping, with products of communities from Bangkok's 50 districts on sale, and a spectacular parade of colourfully illuminated boats along the river.

To make sure no untoward incidents or fatal accidents occur, BMA staff have ordered the temporary closure of decks and piers that may become unsafe with the extra weight of crowds on the Chao Praya River and all Bangkok canals for the night. Some 70 patrolling and fire-fighting boats from the BMA and the Royal Thai Navy will be stationed along the Chao Phraya to keep watch.

Speed boats and 20 scuba divers will be on standby to take accident victims to Vajira Hospital, and police will set up 140 stations at various spots across the city to watch out for accidents or other emergencies. "We should have about 4,500 BMA staff working on the night to assure safety for everyone," Mr Jate said.

From 11pm, BMA staff will clean up the river, canals and other celebration sites with the aim of "returning Bangkok to normal before dawn", Mr Jate said.

He said the BMA would also keep count of the krathongs.

Records show the number of krathongs collected in Bangkok has fallen from about one million in 2006 to about 880,000 last year. This has been attributed to City Hall's "one family, one krathong" campaign to reduce the amount of litter.

The contribution of foam krathongs has also dropped, from 19% to 13%, reflecting growing environmental concern among city residents, he said.

Chirayu Kullatheedirok, a 40-year-old office worker, said she would like to see Bangkok residents of all "colours" celebrate the Loy Krathong festival together.

"We have suffered political divisions for so long," she said. "Let's enjoy this traditional festivity and pray for the peace of Bangkok."