Last Friday, November 26 coincided with the 15th night
of the 12th lunar month of the Thai calendar, a night in which tradition
denotes as Loy Krathong. Celebrations are performed around the nation.
Pattaya City threw her whole heart into the occasion, as Loy Krathong
festivities began from midday and carried on well into the night.
The
giant krathong in the Marriott Resort and Spa pool.
Roads were jammed as visitors, Thai and international,
flocked to Pattaya to celebrate the festival of water and light, which
also coincided with the start of the weekend. Police and volunteers were
out in force to prevent any serious incidents from occurring.
Sirimar
Ornsorn, 17, won the media’s choice award and was crowned Pattaya’s
Nang Noppamas for 2004.
The color and hype started on Friday morning as hotels,
restaurants, shops and bars began lavishly decorating their premises,
committing themselves to the spirit of one of Thailand’s most famous
cultural icons, creating a true Thai flavor to the Loy Krathong festival.
The city held their ‘Traditional Pattaya Loy Krathong
Festival 2004’ with a krathong competition at the old Naklua Markets
during the day, breaking the entrants into teams from schools and the
general public, focusing on eco-friendly krathongs.
Winner
and runners up in the annual Nang Noppamas contest held at Bali Hai pier.
At 6 p.m. the evening’s activities began at Bali Hai
in South Pattaya with the start of the ‘Nang Noppamas’ Beauty pageant.
Twenty-eight charming ladies graced the stage for the night, each vying
for the title and cash prizes. Pisit Ketphasook, Chonburi governor
presided over the opening of the main events in South Pattaya, joined by
other distinguished guests and the pageant judges.
Nang
Noppamas beauty contestants pose at the Montien Hotel’s Loy Krathong
festivities. Miss Sasipa Manuson (2nd right) was declared the winner.
Through the night as the field of contestants was
narrowed down, an array of music and dance featuring colorful, traditional
performances graced the Bali Hai stage to entertain the audience of
residents and visitors.
“Loy,
Loy Krathong ... Loy, Loy Krathong ...” song and dance on stage at Larn
Pho public park, Naklua.
With the field of Nang Noppamas contestants narrowed
down to 10, it was time for the Media’s Choice award, which was given to
stunning 17-year-old Sirimar Ornsorn whose character and beauty enchanted
the judges. She was later crowned Nang Noppamas Pattaya 2004 for her
forthright and intelligent answers to questions posed by the judges.
Sirimar took home 50,000 baht first prize and the 2004 crown.
After the final announcement of the pageant winner,
Samokhae Ketphasook, president of the Chonburi Red Cross Society led
residents and visitors down to the water’s edge to float the fleet of
krathongs out into Pattaya Bay in the belief that asking the spirits of
the water for forgiveness and giving thanks for blessing granted would
ensure them prosperity in the year ahead.
A
giant krathong lit up the waters off the Bali Hai pier, acting as a beacon
for folks to go to the shores and float their krathongs.
Just offshore in South Pattaya a giant 14 meter
krathong was a shining example of the festivities. Elsewhere along the
beachfront, both in Pattaya and Jomtien, thousands of others performed the
same ritual, floating their krathongs into water. Thereafter, a
breathtaking display of fireworks lit up the skies above the city, drawing
gasps from the throngs of onlookers. Officials were on standby to oversee
the limited use of fireworks for safety reasons and there were no serious
incidents reported.
A bevy
of beauties turn heads on Soi Yodsak.
One foreign tourist, who had brought his family along
to the festival in Pattaya said, “This is the first time I have come to
Pattaya for Loy Krathong. I feel that the Thai tradition of Loy Krathong
is truly interesting and important to the Thai people, as I can see by the
effort made by everyone who celebrates it.”
Throughout Pattaya, hotels restaurants and bars joined
in the celebrations, each holding their parties featuring an array of
activities, traditional shows, performances and Nang Noppamas pageants.
Beautiful
fireworks lit up the night sky.
A
handsome young couple floats their krathongs.
Beautifully
dressed staff at the Dusit Resort Pattaya display the true Loy Krathong
tradition.
TGI
staff celebrated Loy Krathong in Trat province while on their annual team
building excursion. Some of the “Miss and Mrs. Krathongs” shown here
are, from left: Anchalee, personal assistant to the German Director;
Jurailak, personal assistant to the Thai director; Rattana from Budget
bureau; Sue, communications and intercultural management; Dusadeepha,
secretary-SME development; and Suwanne, HR manager.
A
future Nang Noppamas? This little one learns the tradition from her
mother.
Proud
dad, Mike Franklin with little Sam all decked out for Loy Krathong at
Shenanigans Pattaya.
Future
Nang Noppamas contestants at the Central Wongamat Beach Resort.
Tuk,
Alexandra Muller, Axel Borsdorf and Janine Tillman ready for the Loy
Krathong fun at the Thai Garden Resort.
Buffalo
races were a fun feature that attracted many curious spectators throughout
the weekend.
On
behalf of the people of Chonburi, Governor Pisit Ketphasook presented a 1
million baht cheque to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to assist
affected families in the south.
PM
Thaksin released nine white doves as a symbol of freedom and peace.
Brendan
Richards and Tony Malhotra, representing the Pattaya expat community,
presented paper cranes to Prime Minister Thaksin as part of the afternoon
formalities.
Students
from Pattaya’s Muslim community fold origami cranes in unison with
students and residents of all ages, throughout the kingdom.
Father
Knud Fallan blesses the couple as they exchange marriage vows.
