Community invited to Thai festival

Traditional Thai dancing, fruit carving and sword fighting will mark the celebration of the Loy Krathong Festival at the main University of Queensland lake on Friday, September 25.

Hosted by the Thai Students' Association of Queensland, the festival of the floating candles will feature Thai classical music performances, Thai costume contests, traditional foods, lucky draws and fire baton shows.

Thai Students' Association president Lha Paraputanon said members of the public were welcome at the Buddhist festival, celebrated as a major national event in Thailand.

A highlight of the evening will be the demonstration of Loy Krathong - candles encased in banana-leaf baskets which are set afloat on the lake.

Mr Lha said Loy Krathong had its origins in the idea of water spirits and the "floating away of all wrongdoing and calamities". The occasion is considered a time for renewal.

The celebrations will run from 5pm to 11pm in the lakes area on College Road at the St Lucia campus. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the site.

For more information, contact Lha Paraputanon (telephone 3217 7310).