loy krathong
more photos HERE
this october i went to my first loy krathong festival at the d.c. wat thai. loy krathong is celebrated on a full moon evening in october or novemeber in thailand. krathongs, which are floating lanterns of incense, are made for people to light and ask mae kongkla (water goddess) for forgiveness of their sins and/or to make a wish that will better their lives as they are released in a river. there is also a competition in which people creatively design elaborate krathongs.