Thai students bring celebration to campus with Loy Krathong

The Association of Thai Students (TSA) held the 4^th annual Loy Krathong Festival in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on Nov. 10. Thai Night was an opportunity for the students of Texas A&M University- Commerce to learn more about Thai traditions and the culture.

"Loy" means "to float" and "Krathong" means lotus-shaped vessels made of banana leaves. The festival implies the sense of thanks-giving to the Goddess of the water. Under the moonlight, people light the candles, make a wish and launch their Krathongs to the water. According to the Thai belief, the event is to worship; these vessels will take the bad things away with the water and make the wish come true.

"I think it is going well," TSA president Patcharaporn Sanglua said. "I am very happy that we are coming all together."

This year, the main goal for the Thai night was fundraising money for the flooding happened recently in Thailand. Since the natural disaster happened, the event could not be held in Thailand, so having the event here in Commerce was really important for the TSA members.

There were multiple activities at the event to demonstrate the culture, including special Asian clothing, foods, live Asian music, and special Thai dances for blessings and symbolizing happiness, and of course making and flooding the Krathong's in the inflatable pool.

Another activity was the Queen contest, with senior Shital Shrestha from Nepal named the winner.

"At first they told me that it is going to be a fashion show," Shrestha said. "I was pretty surprised when I learned it was a contest. It is pretty exiting and special since I'm a foreign student and people choose me."

The Thai Student Association showed their appreciation to those who came to the event.

"I know not all schools show respect for these kinds of events," former president of TSA Woranat Wongdhamma said. "Texas A&M -Commerce is the only one holding this event every year. This is very special for us."

For many students who came to the event, it was a special experience. Many students took their Krathongs with them as a memento to remember the evening.

"I loved it, I think it is so cultural and it was just something I was not used to. Their food and traditions were different. I loved flooding the Krathong, that was my favorite part," freshman political science major, Stephanie Rodriguez said.