Although tomorrow is 'Chulalongkorn Memorial Day', it's also Diwali 2022.
https://thethaiger.com/guides/diwali-20 ... n-thailand
Diwali is right around the corner! Also known as the Festival of Lights, it usually falls sometime between October and November. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Monday, 24 October 2022. It’s one of the biggest festivals in India that is also celebrated in different corners of the world, including Thailand. But did you know what this festival is all about and how it’s celebrated in Thailand? Here’s everything you need to know about Diwali.
Diwali is a festival of lights originating in India. Although most people think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, it’s actually celebrated all across India by people of other religions, including Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. Diwali symbolises different historical events and stories for each religion. Thus, there’s no single origin story.
Even in Hinduism alone, there are several versions of Diwali’s story, which depends on where you are in Thailand. In northern India, it signifies the return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana by lighting rows of clay. In western India, Hindus celebrate the festival to honour the day that Lord Vishnu banished King Bali to the underworld. And in South India, it’s celebrated as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. For certain Hindu communities, Diwali also marks the start of a new year.
Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists have their own version of Diwali stories. For Jains, the festival is celebrated as the day that Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of the Jain religion, reached a state of nirvana or eternal bliss, also known as Moksha. Sikhs, on the other hand, observe the festival as the day that the sixth guru Hargobind Singh was released from prison after 12 years of imprisonment in 1619. And for Buddhists, Diwali commemorates the day Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism.
But although each religion has its own story behind Diwali, they all eventually reflect new beginnings and “the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.” Moreover, people in India celebrate the festival with enthusiastic gestures, no matter what religion.
Thailand has its own festival of lights, known as Loy Krathong. There are several popular stories behind Loy Krathong. Some believe that it originated in Sukhothai, while others say that Nang Noppamas created the festival. However, many people also believe that the festival was influenced by Diwali. The story has it that people release krathongs into the water to commemorate the Buddha’s footprint that was left next to a revered river in India after his ascension to the skies and escape from the cycle of rebirth and death.
To celebrate Diwali, the White Oven and Beach Society in SO Sofitel Hua Hin offers a limited-time Indian menu. You can enjoy a feast of delicious classics like Butter Chicken, Chicken Tikka, and many more. The special menu is only available for lunch and dinner from 22 to 24 October 2022.