FLASHBACK: Thai Loy Krathong Festival in Abuja

The Thai Loy Krathong Festival is a tradition that takes place once a year among the Thai people around the world.

Here in Abuja, I have personally participated in the last three Loy Krathong festivals organised by the Thai Citizens Association, currently headed by Amy Uzoewulu (President) and Somsuay Los (Vice President). The most recent festival took place last November at the Jabi Lake, where the association, along with invited guests (tickets were sold for a small fee), took part in the festivities which included a short program, a dinner of Thai cuisine, and the floating of loi krathongs at the Jabi Lake whilst saying a short prayer or making a wish. (Click "Read more" below to view the PHOTO GALLERY)

What made the last event different from the others was that guests had to walk about 200 meters (I’m not good at calculating distances, so it could more or less) from the Abuja Horse and Country Club function area to the edge of the Jabi Lake where a small platform was built for this purpose. Headlights of vehicles parked at strategic points were turned on to illuminate the dirt road. Oh it was fun, all right, doing all these things under the beautiful Abuja moonlight!

Guests included the Ambassadors of Thailand and Indonesia and their wives as well as other members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja and the general public. These photos were taken at the event by Inside Track Abuja. 

Loy Krathong, ready for floating into the water

The Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria and his wife (inset)

Members of the Thai Citizens Association, organisers of the Loy Krathong Festival in Abuja

Amy Uzoewulu, President of the Thai Citizens Association in Abuja

Ladies who won awards for wearing Thai costumes

Amy teaches some guests how to speak Thai 

Guest, while walking towards the lake

  

A cross-section of the guests

A cross section of the guest, getting ready to float their krathongs into the water

Loy Krathong Festival participants by the lake

And of course, a Thai Festival is not complete without the exotic Thai dishes...