On the full moon night of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (usually November), a festival known as . loy krathong occurs.
During this popular holiday in Thailand, celebrants float small, illuminated boats made from banana stems and leaves on the water as a sign of religious gratitude. The festival will be held in Montclair for the first time this weekend.
AAPI Montclair hosts festival
The nonprofit organization AAPI Montclair is loy krathong family celebration Yantakau Brook Park, 30 Club Road, Sundays from noon to 2 p.m.
Families will have the opportunity to make biodegradable krathong from bread, flowers and leaves and eat Thai food. Children can learn about Loy She Krathong through story-telling and coloring activities.
AAPI Montclair President Amber Reed said the festival is the brainchild of a local family.
“This idea came from a family who had a daughter they adopted from Thailand, and they just wanted to help her grow up so she could celebrate Thai culture with her friends,” Reid said.
The ticketed event is free, but there is an optional $10 fee for adults and children to offset costs. It will be held rain or shine. Exact location will be emailed to registrants.
What is Loy Krathong?
According to the Thailand Foundation, the term Loi Krathong is derived from the Thai word “loi'', which means “floating'', and “krathong'', which refers to a type of small religious offering that floats on water. The highlight of this festival is the release of krathong into large and small water bodies across the country.
According to the foundation, “Other Loy Krathong activities include sky lantern raising, Buddhist religious ceremonies, music, street food, and local fairs. Major rivers such as the Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers are used for celebrations. It’s a hotspot.”
Ricardo Caulesser covers race, immigration and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, subscribe or activate your Digital His account today.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ricardokaul