Text by Lan&Bai He Transltion by Zheng Ying Photos by CFP

THE KRATHONG OF BLESSlNGS

Text by Lan&Bai He Transltion by Zheng Ying Photos by CFP

Thailand sees its dry season from November to February, which is also the prime time for tourism. On the first evening of full moon right after the rainy season ends, Thai people celebrate their most important traditional festival, the Loi Krathong festival.

Four envoys from CCTV Discovery channel started their visit in Thailand during the Loi Krathong festival. From Bangkok the capital to the second biggest city Chiangmai, they set out for a journey of exotic experience.

The Loi Krathong festival dates back to the first Dynasty of Sukhothai, which was over 800 years ago. At the beginning, the festival was celebrated by the king and consorts who rode dragon boats while appreciating fireworks and the moon, until Nang Noppamas first floated a Krathong made of banana leaves and decorated with flowers, incense sticks and a candle, to pray for god's blessing on the peace and prosperity of the country.

As the Krathong floats afar, the hardship of the past year is gone.

So the tradition of floating a Krathong has been passed down. Today, the Loi Krathong festival is also a time for lovers to express affections for one another.

During the Loi Krathong festival, where there is water, there are Krathongs. Tens of thousands of Thai people wish for all bad luck to go with the rainy season, and happiness and joy to arrive with the dry season, grateful for everything that is past and hopeful for the future.

祈福之灯

每年11月到次年2月的旱季，是泰国旅游的旺季，特别是雨季结束的第一个月圆之夜，是泰国人最重视的传统节日之一——水灯节。

CCTV-发现之旅的四位发现使者，就在水灯节期间，在泰国首都曼谷和第二大城市清迈，感受不一样的风情。

水灯节起源于泰国的第一个王朝——素可泰，距今已经有800多年的历史了。起初，在这个节日，只有国王乘坐龙舟，与嫔妃臣民燃放烟花、赏月嬉水的习俗。后来，有一位名为娜诺帕玛丝的贵妃，增加了水灯节的庆祝内容。她用香蕉叶折叠成莲花状的花灯，在上面插上鲜花、点上蜡烛和线香，在与国王游船时，将灯放入河中，借以祈福国泰民安，感谢天神护佑。

水灯慢慢远去，似乎过去一年的烦恼也随波消逝。

此后流传民间，于是，做水灯、放水灯，就成为泰国水灯节的风俗流传下去。如今，它演变成一个情侣互诉衷肠的节日。

水灯节期间，在泰国，有水流经的地方，就有水灯的逐水，就有许愿的人们：让一切病痛忧伤随雨季远去，请一切欢乐美好跟旱季同时抵达。感谢逝去的一切，祝福现在和未来。

Discovery 1:Dancing competitions

水灯节舞蹈比赛

The theme song of Loi Krathong prevails the entire reign of Thailand and the Thai people celebrate the festival by raising group dancing competitions, where the champions can receive a prize of over 10,000 Baht.

Discovery 2: Traditional parades传统游行

Equally important there are parades with traditional performances about Thai legends and Buddhist stories, which have become a special vehicle to display Thai culture.

Discovery 3: Flying sky lanterns

万人天灯

Loi Karthong festival in Chiangmai features sky lanterns flown by ten thousand people. The sky lantern has its origin in China as a tool of war. Today it is an agent of beautiful wishes of people around the globe.