No fireworks, but a ‘Super Moon’ for Loy Krathong

However, Loy Krathong this year coincided with the “Super Moon” natural phenomenon – the full moon yesterday was the closest to the Earth in 68 years. The phenomenon was a major attraction worldwide, and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand set up telescopes at three venues and at many schools around the country for people to watch the bright moon.
Pol Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said people were free to enjoy Loy Krathong but entertainment should be arranged carefully to suit the mourning period and all kinds of fireworks were strictly banned.
“National police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda has ordered police officers nationwide to step up security during the festival [last night] and until now there has been no sign of any mishap,” Kritsana said late yesterday.
“People are urged not to light any fireworks and sky lanterns or they will be punished with a fine of up to Bt60,000 or up to three years in prison, according to NCPO order 27/2559. The police will also strictly enforced the law against illegal motorcycle racing during the Loy Krathong Festival as well.”

Venues reopen
All entertainment venues were allowed to reopen starting last night, but Kritsana said operators still had to ensure entertainment was appropriate while the country mourns for the late King.
He also asked parents who planned to take children to the festival to write down their names and contact numbers on notes that the children carried in case they got lost, which would make it easier to reunite them with parents.
Pol Maj-General Songpol Watthanachai, deputy police spokesman, said there were 436 piers in Bangkok where people could celebrate Loy Krathong, but 70 of them were regarded as unsafe. Four piers near the Grand Palace – Tha Chang, Tha Phrachan, Tha Tien and Tha Maharaj – were closed.
Songpol said there would be officers to provide security and help people at all piers and major destinations in the capital where Loy Krathong was celebrated. It was estimated that there would be around 300,000 people celebrating the festival in Bangkok.
The National Astronomical Research Institute (NARIT), meanwhile, arranged three sites for watching the “Super Moon” in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chachoengsao.
NARIT director Boonrucksar Soonthornthum said last night the distance to the moon was only 356,511 kilometres, which made it look about 30-per-cent brighter.
“The people can watch the ‘Super Full Moon’ with their naked eyes in the east after sunset. However, NARIT has provided telescopes for people to look at the moon closer in three venues, plus at 161 schools in 61 provinces nationwide,” Boonrucksar said.
“The next ‘Super Full Moon’ will be on January 2, 2018, when the moon will be 356,565 kilometres away from Earth.”