Under a the 11th Full Moon last night, the Thai people celebrated Loy Kratong, or the end of the Rainy Season, by floating small boats with lit candles in the river. This, by the way, is the same festival that Rupert and I experienced in Lao a month ago watching long-boat races on the Mekong. I don't know why there is a month descrepancy though.
This time, Rupert, Todd and I did our part by joining thousands of people at the Taskin Bridge (Sapan Taskin). We didn't fight our way through the crowd to buy a candle boat, but we watched from the bridge as people took a ferry out to the middle of the river and floated their candles from there.
Wow --- very picturesque --- at least what I am envisioning.
What is the symbolism of the lit candles floating in the water down the river? Thanking nature for the rain, but now it's time for it to float away with the current?
Love you!!
Opps. I just now (exactly one year later) am replying to this comment. Yes, the idea is to thank nature for the rain and the rivers. See my post from this year (2003) for more information about this celebration.