More Krathong float this year in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Nov 4 (TNA) -- More people in Bangkok celebrated Thailand’s Loy Krathong annual festival on Friday night than last year and the floats made by natural materials outnumbered plastic foams, said Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) governor Pol Gen Asawin Khwanmuang. It showed that the celebrants were concerned of pollution and environment, said Pol Gen Asawin. By early Saturday, City Hall workers collected 811,945 Krathong from the Chao Phraya River, canals and public parks, 22.7 per cent more than last year. Of the total, 93.6 per cent of Krathongs were made of natural materials like banana stems while the rest were syrofoam floats. Pol Gen Asawin said Krathong made of natural materials will be sent to Nong Khaem garbage disposal centre to make organic compost fertilizers, while those made of foams will be sent for destroy through burying. Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. The exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. On the festival day, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits. (TNA)