pakkret happiness

Float the Faith to the Goddess of Water Loy Krathong tradition has existed in Thailand since ancient times. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. As local residences are clustered along the river, people usually seek a way to redress their wrongdoing and plead with the Goddess of Water. They also enjoy the beauty of full moon on Loy Krathong Day. For Mons, the tradition of Loy Krathong is related to the legend of Phra Mahathera Uppakutta. According to the legend, at one fishing village in India, there was a fisherman who got a big fish after returning from the sea. Surprisingly, as he opened it, he found the girl; thus, he decided to send the child over to the rajah, a group leader. The girl was adopted and named Princess Majcha. When Princess Majcha was 18, she was found stained with an unpleasant smell and expelled from the palace. Fortunately, the anchorite Kutta accidentally met her and found out that she was pregnant. The anchorite then took care of her until she gave birth to a baby boy who was named Uppakutta. When Uppakutta grew up, the anchorite thought about sending him back to his father as a successor to the throne. Princess Majcha however argued against the idea and seized control over the boy. God Intra perceived what happened; he grabbed and dropped Uppakutta into the Khongkha River. With an inherent power of merit, a royal palace was projected out of the water by miracle to support his body. People who saw the incident surrendered themselves to Uppakutta. The way they paid homage in honor of Uppakutta has subsequently been crystallized into Loy Krathong festival and celebration of today. Having realized the importance and value of local culture, every year Pak Kret City Municipality, thus, hold the grand Loy Krathong Festival, the parade of Thai-Mon rafts and flags. Besides, the raft design contest and beauty contests (Nu Noi Noppamas and Nang Noppamas) as well as historical performances of Mons are regarded as another attraction of the festival. Loy Krathong festival reflects local wisdom in crafting an activity that strengthens interconnectedness, family bond and community integration. In a cultural context, the festival portrays a way of life of Thai-Raman people in Pak Kret, As the Chao Phraya flows over the land of Pak Kret and benefits local people to a great extent, Loy Krathong tradition is an opportunity in which apologies for wrongdoings are to be addressed to the river. On the day after the festival, the candlelight will entirely vanish; yet, the inner light of ecstasy for Pak Kret people continues glowing brilliantly with their affirmative contribution to culture and Buddhism. 89