Loy Krathong Festival brings joy throughout Thailand

BANGKOK, November 6 (TNA) - People throughout Thailand are celebrating the Loy Krathong Festival this year, which falls on November 6, amid more security officers deployed for public safety, including more than 2,000 in Bangkok alone. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has deployed staffs to secure public safety at piers along the Chao Phraya River on Thursday night, while banning fireworks and sky lanterns in festive venues, communities and aviation areas. In the northern resort Chiang Mai Province, local people are organizing ceremonies to worship the River Goddess and to officially start their Loy Krathong Festival. In the eastern Sa Kaeo Province, bordering Cambodia, local authorities in Aranyaprathet District are organizing a Loy Krathong event for Thai and Cambodian people at the Ban Nong Prue border trade area to not only celebrate and conserve the annual full moon festival, but to also boost bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. In the southern resort Ranong Province, where a Thai-Myanmar beauty pageant is organized among other festive activities, Myanmar people from Kawthaung Township and nearby areas, opposite the province, are arriving on ferries in Pak Nam Sub-district of Muang District to celebrate this year's Loy Krathong Festival. At least 20,000 Myanmar people visit the locality to join the provincial Loy Krathong Festival every year. In Songkhla Province in the Thai far South, all parties have promoted the provincial Loy Krathong Festival to attract more international tourists, particularly in Hat Yai, where only 60-70 per cent of hotel rooms have been booked, as the Loy Kratong Festival this year falls on a workday and November is the beginning of a new semester in neighboring Malaysia. The Meteorological Department reported, in the meantime, that it may rain in 60 per cent of areas in the Thai North, Bangkok and nearby provinces from Thursday afternoon to Thursday evening, while heavy downpours are possible in the western part of the Thai North, including Mae Hong Son and Tak Provinces. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha told reporters that he has no plans to celebrate this year's Loy Kratong Festival, but asking the public to be more careful for the sake of their safety during the festivity, namely following relevant laws and regulations. (TNA)