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| ลอยกระทง laawyM graL thohngM | ![]() |
| Royal Institute - 1982 | ||||
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| pronunciation guide | |
| Phonemic Thai | ลอย-กฺระ-ทง |
| IPA | lɔːj kràʔ tʰoŋ |
| Royal Thai General System | loi krathong |
| [proper noun, event] | |||
| definition | Loi Kratong, Loy Krathong, a Thai festival and ceremony of Brahmin origin celebrated throughout the nation on the full moon night of November each year by floating กระทง onto the local rivers or canals to ask for forgiveness from the River Goddess Ganges (พระแม่คงคา ) for having polluted her in the past and to express gratitude toward her for giving everyone water | ||
| notes | As Thais are floating their กระทง, a small boat made of banana tree leaf or bark, they usually make a wish. It is believed that if the candle remains burning until the กระทง is out of sight, then the wish will come true. Or perhaps one sends away down the river all the misery or bad luck one might have had during the past year, wishing for a better upcoming year. At night often there are firework displays, entertainment shows and beauty contests (called ประกวดนางนพมาศ ). | ||
| categories | |||
| components | ลอย ![]() | laawyM | to float, to set afloat or adrift; to waft through (the air) |
| กระทง | graL thohngM | ceremonial vessel of flower, candle, and burning incense (see ลอยกระทง ) | |
| related word | ยี่เป็ง | yeeF bpengM | Major Lan Na festival coinciding with Loy Krathong. |
| sample sentence | |||

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