Thai festival celebrated at University

A festival celebrating one of Thailand's most ancient and important traditions will be enacted on the shores of the lake at The University of Queensland's St Lucia campus on Friday, October 6.

Loy Krathong day is celebrated annually on the November full moon, the culmination of Thailand's "high water season".

"In Thai folklore, five goddesses personify the five material elements: Mae Phra Toranee, mother of earth; Phra Plerng, goddess of fire; Mae Phra Posop, goddess of grain or food; and Mae Khong Kha, or mother of water," said UQ Thai Students' Association president Peter Rithakananone.

"This is the annual festival of thanksgiving to Mae Khong Kha for her bounty in providing water not only for drinking and washing, but for the essential means of the livelihood of most Thai agriculture, fishing and transport by river and other waterways.

"Loy Krathong is the day on which all this great mass of overflowing water is saluted and celebrated by floating the delicate, dainty and typically Thai creations called Krathong on any and every stretch of water in the kingdom.

"There is always enough water around for everyone to Loy or float his or her Krathong. After dark every stretch of water in Thailand glitters with the bobbing lights of thousands of candles inside beautiful little banana-leaf baskets."

Mr Rithakananone said the UQ celebration, from 5pm to 11pm, would feature Thai traditional dance, Thai foods and beer, Thai costume contests and lucky draws, including a major prize of a return airline ticket to Bangkok.

For more information, contact Brad Turner, UQ Communications 3365 2659 or email communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au