THE KRATHONG OF BLESSlNGS

Text by Lan&Bai He Transltion by Zheng Ying Photos by CFP

THE KRATHONG OF BLESSlNGS

Text by Lan&Bai He Transltion by Zheng Ying Photos by CFP

Thailand sees its dry season from November to February, which is also the prime time for tourism. On the first evening of full moon right after the rainy season ends, Thai people celebrate their most important traditional festival, the Loi Krathong festival.

Four envoys from CCTV Discovery channel started their visit in Thailand during the Loi Krathong festival. From Bangkok the capital to the second biggest city Chiangmai, they set out for a journey of exotic experience.

The Loi Krathong festival dates back to the first Dynasty of Sukhothai, which was over 800 years ago. At the beginning, the festival was celebrated by the king and consorts who rode dragon boats while appreciating fireworks and the moon, until Nang Noppamas first floated a Krathong made of banana leaves and decorated with flowers, incense sticks and a candle, to pray for god's blessing on the peace and prosperity of the country.

As the Krathong floats afar, the hardship of the past year is gone.

So the tradition of floating a Krathong has been passed down. Today, the Loi Krathong festival is also a time for lovers to express affections for one another.

During the Loi Krathong festival, where there is water, there are Krathongs. Tens of thousands of Thai people wish for all bad luck to go with the rainy season, and happiness and joy to arrive with the dry season, grateful for everything that is past and hopeful for the future.

祈福之燈

每年11月到次年2月的旱季，是泰國旅游的旺季，特別是雨季結束的第一個月圓之夜，是泰國人最重視的傳統節日之一——水燈節。

CCTV-發現之旅的四位發現使者，就在水燈節期間，在泰國首都曼谷和第二大城市清邁，感受不一樣的風情。

水燈節起源于泰國的第一個王朝——素可泰，距今已經有800多年的歷史了。起初，在這個節日，只有國王乘坐龍舟，與嬪妃臣民燃放煙花、賞月嬉水的習俗。后來，有一位名為娜諾帕瑪絲的貴妃，增加了水燈節的慶祝內容。她用香蕉葉折疊成蓮花狀的花燈，在上面插上鮮花、點上蠟燭和線香，在與國王游船時，將燈放入河中，借以祈福國泰民安，感謝天神護佑。

水燈慢慢遠去，似乎過去一年的煩惱也隨波消逝。

此后流傳民間，于是，做水燈、放水燈，就成為泰國水燈節的風俗流傳下去。如今，它演變成一個情侶互訴衷腸的節日。

水燈節期間，在泰國，有水流經的地方，就有水燈的逐水，就有許愿的人們：讓一切病痛憂傷隨雨季遠去，請一切歡樂美好跟旱季同時抵達。感謝逝去的一切，祝福現在和未來。

Discovery 1:Dancing competitions

水燈節舞蹈比賽

The theme song of Loi Krathong prevails the entire reign of Thailand and the Thai people celebrate the festival by raising group dancing competitions, where the champions can receive a prize of over 10,000 Baht.

Discovery 2: Traditional parades傳統游行

Equally important there are parades with traditional performances about Thai legends and Buddhist stories, which have become a special vehicle to display Thai culture.

Discovery 3: Flying sky lanterns

萬人天燈

Loi Karthong festival in Chiangmai features sky lanterns flown by ten thousand people. The sky lantern has its origin in China as a tool of war. Today it is an agent of beautiful wishes of people around the globe.