A young couple loys their krathong (sets
their float adrift) during the city’s announcement for this year’s
holiday.
Laongdao Thongthuan
Pattaya will award more than 50,000 baht in scholarships to young girls
competing in its Loy Krathong “Nu Noi (Young Miss) Noppamas” pageant
Sunday at Bali Hai Pier.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon met with pageant judges, tourism
officials and sponsors Nov. 5 to put the final touches on planning for
the official Nov. 17 Loy Krathong celebration.
Pattaya also will host an official Loy Krathong celebration featuring at
a krathong contest and concerts at 6 p.m. at Lan Po Park in Naklua.
The pageant, open to girls under age 10, will award a 10,000 scholarship
to the first-place finisher, 7,000 baht for second and 5,000 baht for
third. Twenty-five additional scholarships of 1,000-3,000 baht will be
given for lower-placed finishers and prizes for the most talented and
best dressed.
The girls will be dressed in traditional Thai traditional costumes and
must put on a three-minute performance expressing awareness of what it
means to be Thai.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya Director Auttaphol Wannakij said
many Thai and foreign tourists are expected to attend, making it an
important revenue-generator for the city.
Pageant judging coordinator Banjong Banthoonprayuk said the “Nu Noi
Noppamas” contest is intended to promote education, new experiences and
Thai culture.
Young women compete in a
recent Loy Krathong “Nu Noi (Young Miss) Noppamas” pageant at Bali Hai
Pier.
