November 14 in Thailand full of emotions

I’ve been talking about it for months because it’s my favorite festival in Thailand and today is the big day: it’s Loy Krathong ! The festival will be celebrated all around the country while many tributes to the late King will also take place because today, it is also 30 days since he died. And tonight, the full moon will be especially big and some places will arrange observation sites.

Loy Krathong 2016

I will not detail the program in the cities having a festival a bit more important than elsewhere but Loy Krathogn is espacially interesting in Chiang Mai and in Bangkok many parks will stay open tonight. I especially advise you to go to the Santi Chai Prakan Park.

It is after sunset that the most important event of Loy Krathong will take place :people will put their small artisanal rafts surmounted by a candle and sticks of incense on the rivers and pounds. There vwill aslo be beautiful candle ceremonies.

Tribute to the King all over the country

This November 14, 2016 also marks the 30 days of the late  King’s death. The population has been called to several tributes throughout Thailand this evening. The most important will take place in Sanam Luang, in front of the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) but there will also be a tribute in Chiang Mai in front of Central Festival and in other cities.

In front Siriraj Hospital where King Bhumibol died on October 13, the people will also pay tribute to him. The event will start at 4:15 pm with a marching band playing songs written by the king. The band will also play the song “Saeng Tian Saeng Fa” (light of candle, light of heaven) that it wrote in honor of the King.

The 140 staff members of the hospital will form a figure representing the Thai number 9 referring to the king who was the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty.

Around 6 pm, all the participants will observe 89 seconds of silence, after which all will sing the royal hymn.

A full moon rarely as “big”

Today there will also be a exceptional full moon because the moon has never been so close to Earth in 68 years (since January 26, 1948). The moon should be 14% larger than usual.

Several observation posts with telescopes for visitors will be set up in Thailand, in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chachongsao and some other places.

In short, tonight, in Thailand, there will be many celebrations with traditions, tribute to the late king and observation of the moon.