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.
A young couple loys their krathong (sets their float adrift) during the city’s announcement for this year’s holiday.
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.
Young women compete in a recent Loy Krathong “Nu Noi (Young Miss) Noppamas” pageant at Bali Hai Pier.
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.
